Pakistan and Azerbaijan have reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fields of law, justice and judicial reform during a high-level meeting between H.E. Barrister Aqeel Malik, Minister of State for Law and Justice of Pakistan, and H.E. Mr. Farid Ahmadov, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan, held in Baku.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Executive Judicial Training Programme – "The Judicial Craft", currently being conducted in Baku under the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed between the Ministries of Justice of Pakistan and Azerbaijan.
The Pakistani delegation included H.E. Mr. Qasim Mohiuddin, Ambassador of Pakistan to Azerbaijan, Ms. Aisha Rasool, Senior Consultant, Ministry of Law and Justice and Project Director, International Mediation & Arbitration Centre (IMAC), and Mr. Ehsan Ullah Khan, Registrar, IMAC. The Azerbaijani delegation included senior officials of the Ministry of Justice, including Mr. Adil Abilov, Director General for International Cooperation, and Mr. Rovshan Ismayilov, Rector of the Justice Academy of Azerbaijan.
Welcoming the Pakistani delegation, Minister Farid Ahmadov underscored the historic friendship and growing strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Pakistan. He appreciated the excellent cooperation established between the two Ministries of Justice and reaffirmed Azerbaijan's commitment to further expanding institutional collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
Barrister Aqeel Malik conveyed the warm greetings and best wishes of Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar (N.I.), Federal Minister for Law and Justice of Pakistan, and reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to translating the bilateral partnership into practical cooperation that delivers lasting institutional benefits for both countries.
The two Ministers reviewed the progress achieved under the Memorandum of Cooperation and expressed satisfaction that the partnership has rapidly evolved from a framework of understanding into tangible collaboration. They noted that the successful implementation of the Advanced Treaty Practice: From Signature to Domestic Law programme in Islamabad earlier this year, followed by the commencement of the Executive Judicial Training Programme – "The Judicial Craft" in Baku, reflects the strong momentum of cooperation between the two Ministries.
The Ministers discussed opportunities to further strengthen collaboration in judicial education, institutional capacity building, legal research, legislative development, digital transformation of justice institutions, and the promotion of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration. They also emphasized the importance of sustained exchanges between judicial academies, legal experts and justice sector institutions to facilitate the sharing of comparative experiences and international best practices.
Recognizing the growing role of technology in justice delivery, both sides exchanged views on innovation in judicial administration, digital justice initiatives and the responsible use of emerging technologies to improve efficiency, accessibility and public confidence in justice systems.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared resolve of Pakistan and Azerbaijan to continue implementing the Memorandum of Cooperation through regular institutional engagement, joint programmes and high-level exchanges. Both Ministers expressed confidence that closer cooperation between the two Ministries of Justice would further strengthen the rule of law, enhance professional capacity and contribute to the continued development of modern, efficient and citizen-centric justice systems.
The Government of Pakistan greatly values its enduring friendship with the Republic of Azerbaijan and remains committed to further expanding cooperation in the justice sector, reflecting the shared vision of both brotherly nations for peace, prosperity and the rule of law.
