ADR becoming essential component of modern justice system: Law Minister

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th May, 2026) Federal Minister for Law and Justice, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar on Wednesday stated that Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) was no longer just an alternative mechanism but has become an essential and important component of the modern justice system.

The minister was addressing here to the participants of a six day internationally recognised mediation training programme organised by the International Mediation and Arbitration Centre, established under the Ministry of Law and Justice at Comsats.

The event was attended by parliamentarians, judicial officers, legal experts, government officials, and ADR specialists from across the country. The minister commended the efforts of the IMAC team, the project director, and the international trainers. He highlighted that over 2.26 million cases were currently pending in Pakistan, with civil cases taking an average of 15 years for decisions and commercial disputes taking 1,073 days to resolve, demonstrating the urgent need for a swift and effective alternative system.

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Senator Tarar said the government has taken significant steps to promote ADR, including signing the Singapore Convention on Mediation, ratifying the convention regarding the establishment of the International Organisation for Mediation, and establishing IMAC.

He informed the participants that IMAC has so far provided basic training to over 1,300 judges, lawyers, government officials, business personalities, and students, while 100 participants have completed internationally recognised mediation and ADR training.

The federal minister emphasised that such training programmes played a crucial role in developing experts for effective dispute resolution. He urged upon participants to become ambassadors for promoting mediation within their institutions and to practically apply the skills they have acquired.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Ministry of Law and Justice to continue its role in institutional promotion of ADR, dialogue, and strengthening the culture of peaceful dispute resolution in Pakistan.