The International Mediation and Arbitration Center (IMAC), Ministry of Law and Justice, successfully concluded its six-day Internationally Accredited Foundational Training Programme on Arbitration with a closing ceremony held at the COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad. The programme aimed to strengthen Pakistan’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) framework and build professional capacity in arbitration.
Aisha Rasool, Senior Consultant at the Ministry of Law and Justice and Project Director, IMAC, attended the ceremony as Chief Guest. Congratulating the participants on completing the programme, she emphasised the importance of adhering to internationally recognised standards, maintaining impartiality, and ensuring that all parties have a fair and equal opportunity to be heard in arbitration proceedings.
She highlighted the role of competent and impartial arbitrators in strengthening confidence in dispute resolution mechanisms and fostering investor confidence. She reaffirmed the Ministry’s vision of positioning Pakistan as a credible regional hub for arbitration and commercial dispute resolution through professional capacity-building and the adoption of international best practices.
Ehsan Ullah Khan, Registrar, IMAC, expressed his appreciation for the contributions of the trainers and training organisations, as well as the participating organisations for nominating their representatives to attend the programme.
Highlighting the limited practical implementation of ADR provisions under existing Pakistani laws, Ehsan Ullah Khan urged participants to raise awareness of the mechanisms available under Pakistani law and contribute to their effective implementation. He encouraged participants to become champions of ADR within their respective organisations and support IMAC’s mission to promote ADR across the country.
Led by Dr. Nudrat E. Piracha, the training team from International Centre for Appropriate Dispute Resolution & Prevention (ICADRP) and the International Law Institute (ILI), USA, delivered an intensive programme covering the fundamental stages of arbitration. Through practical case studies, simulations, and interactive discussions, participants explored arbitration agreements, the appointment and conduct of arbitrators, evidentiary procedures, and the enforcement of arbitral awards.
Representing the participants, Muhammad Saqib Ayyaz, Member, Anti-Dumping Appellate Tribunal, Islamabad, described the programme as a valuable learning experience that deepened participants’ understanding of arbitration and its application in dispute resolution.
The training programme brought together participants from Parliament, federal and provincial governments, the judiciary, the legal fraternity, regulatory bodies, public-sector organisations, and academic institutions.
The ceremony concluded with the distribution of certificates to participants in recognition of their successful completion of the six-day programme.
IMAC reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Pakistan’s arbitration and mediation framework through professional capacity-building and national and international collaboration. These efforts aim to improve access to justice, strengthen investor confidence, and support Pakistan’s ambition to emerge as a credible regional hub for arbitration and commercial dispute resolution.
