May 31, 2024 | Venue: NIBAF, Islamabad
Islamabad, May 31, 2024 – 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 hosted a seminar titled "The Future of Dispute Resolution in Pakistan: Embracing the Singapore Convention on Mediation and Green ADR" on May 31, 2024, at the National Institute of Banking and Finance (NIBAF) in Islamabad.
The seminar began with a recitation and the national anthem. Mr. Kamran Bilgrami, Director of IBA CEE, delivered the welcome address. Mr. Eric Ives from the CLDP, U.S. Department of Commerce, discussed U.S. support for Pakistan's ADR movement, followed by Sidharth Jha from SIMC explaining the Singapore Convention on Mediation.
Mr. Amin Lakhani, Honorary Consulate General to Singapore in Pakistan, shared his perspective on the convention, while Dr. S Akbar Zaidi, Executive Director of IBA Karachi, highlighted IBA's ADR initiative and commitment through the IBA ADR International Center (IBA ADRIC). A significant milestone was the signing of MOUs between IBA ADRIC and the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Directorate of Legal Education, Pakistan Bar Council, and Islamabad Bar Council.
The second part of the seminar focused on "Green ADR for Sustainability." Syed Bulent Sohail, Attorney-Adviser to IBA ADRIC and a SIMI Accredited Mediator, introduced the concept of Green ADR, emphasizing its core principles and environmental benefits. This session included an engaging panel discussion on climate change and ADR, featuring prominent experts such as Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, Senior Climate Change Expert, and Dr. Jo DeLaGarza-Chitlik, U.S. Fulbright Specialist and Expert Mediator, among others, including Mr. Muzzafar Ahmed Mirza, Head of Legal SECP, Ms. Saima Kamilla Khan, Chief Legal Counsel Jazz, Ms. Iqra Mussadaq, CLO Special Technology Zones Authority, Dr. Mobeen Shah CLO Zong, Ms. Sibah Farooq Advocate and Barrister Zunaira Fayyaz climate change expert. The panel discussed practical ways to adopt and institutionalize Green ADR in Pakistan so that the law and dispute resolution mechanisms can address climate change in Pakistan.
In his address, Mr. Justice Jawad Hassan highlighted the superior judiciary's pro-mediation stance, referencing numerous judgments to support his argument. Chief Guest Mr. Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, in his keynote speech, emphasized mediation's crucial role in the justice system and advocated for a paradigm shift from negotiation to mediation to arbitration.
Mr. Raza Chinoy, COO of EcoPack Pvt. Ltd. and President of the IBA Alumni Islamabad Chapter, delivered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all participants and organizers.
This seminar marks a significant step forward in promoting mediation and sustainable dispute resolution practices in Pakistan, paving the way for a more efficient and environmentally conscious legal framework.
