The Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, in collaboration with the Singapore International Mediation Center (SIMC) and the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP), U.S. Department of Commerce, successfully organized a seminar titled “The Future of Dispute Resolution in Pakistan: Embracing the Singapore Convention on Mediation and Green ADR” at the National Institute of Banking and Finance (NIBAF) in Islamabad.
The event convened distinguished legal experts, climate change advocates, and key stakeholders to discuss the future of dispute resolution in Pakistan, focusing on mediation and sustainable practices. Kamran Bilgrami, Director IBA-CEE and SIMI Accredited Mediator, delivered the welcome address, setting the stage for an engaging session. Eric Ives, Attorney Advisor, CLDP, U.S. Department of Commerce, shared insights into the U.S. government’s support for Pakistan’s ADR movement.
Sidharth Jha, Legal Counsel at SIMC, provided an explanation of the Singapore Convention on Mediation. Amin Lakhani, Honorary Consulate General to Singapore in Pakistan, and Dr. S Akbar Zaidi, Executive Director, IBA Karachi, expressed their perspectives on the convention and commitment to ADR in Pakistan through the IBA ADR International Center (IBA ADRIC).
A significant milestone was the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between IBA ADRIC and the Ministry of Law and Justice of Pakistan, the Directorate of Legal Education, Pakistan Bar Council, and the Islamabad Bar Council. The seminar also discussed ‘Green ADR for Sustainability,’ introducing the concept and holding a panel discussion on climate change and ADR, featuring experts such as Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, Senior Climate Change Expert, and Dr. Jo DeLaGarza-Chitlik, U.S. Fulbright Specialist and Expert Mediator. Justice Jawad Hassan, Lahore High Court, highlighted the pro-mediation stance of the superior judiciary, emphasizing the urgent need for Pakistan to ratify the Singapore Convention. Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Supreme Court of Pakistan, emphasized the crucial role of mediation in the justice system and advocated for a paradigm shift in dispute resolution.
The seminar concluded with Raza Chinoy, COO, EcoPack Pvt. Ltd., expressing gratitude to all participants and organizers, marking a significant step forward in promoting mediation and sustainable dispute resolution practices in Pakistan.
