Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry inaugurated the two day National Conference on Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) held at a local hotel in Lahore. The event was organized by International Finance Corporation – World Bank Group in collaboration with the Federal Judicial Academy and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands.

During the inaugural session other high profile speakers included Honorable Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jilani of Supreme Court of Pakistan, Mr. Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif – Chief Justice Lahore High Court, Ms. Navin Merchant from IFC, Mr. Justice (Retd.) Saiduzzaman Siddiqui – former Chief Justice of Pakistan and Mr. Muhammad Kamran Shehzad – Deputy Governor, State Bank of Pakistan.

Speakers highlighted the importance of mediation as an effective tool for dispute settlement and appreciated IFC’s efforts to implement comprehensive projects which institutionalize mediation in Pakistan. During recent years, mediation has become a popular instrument for resolution of disputes pertaining to small and medium enterprises, shipping, intellectual property, land, tenant and landlord, banking and other common disagreements pertaining to breach of contracts and misunderstandings.

Courts in Pakistan are currently inundated with disputes pending in courts for decades and the Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan have taken cognizance of long delays of cases in courts and is recommending use of mediation as an alternate form of dispute resolution. This is reflected in the National Judicial Policy 2009 where presiding officers have been encouraged to refer cases for mediation and conciliation to the ADR.

International experience suggests that mediation helps parties to resolve their disputes amicably thereby providing business solutions to disputes which are a consequence of misunderstanding. During inaugural session, the speakers emphasized on developments made in legal and policy matters which in long term would provide substantial support to the implementation of dispute resolution.

The conference will close on 30th April 2010 with foreign and local speakers sharing valuable opinions on developing mediation in Pakistan.

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