ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani delegation, comprising judges of superior and district judiciary and senior law officers, during their visit to the US, told the stakeholders that Pakistani legal system was quite safe for foreign investors.

Headed by Supreme Court Justice Shahid Waheed, the delegates added that Pakistan pays special focus on Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) as well.

The delegation returned to Islamabad on Sunday after completing their visit to the US to attend a conference on ADR.

The weeklong conference was organised by US Department of Commerce Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP). The Pakistani delegation attended the conference to strengthen confidence of the foreign investors regarding exponential growth of ADR and mediation by courts in Pakistan.

Justice Shahid Waheed also delivered speeches in the courts of New York and Washington DC.

With a backlog of 2.3 million cases, Pakistan has about 4,300 judges across the country to adjudicate them. Roughly, 60,000 cases are pending before the 16 judges of the apex court. The law to settle the legal disputes through mediation or ADR was introduced a few years back; however, the judiciary started establishing mediation centres a few months ago.

Top judges of the apex court have repeatedly urged resolving disputes through ADR to reduce burden on the regular courts in a bid to end the huge backlog.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2024