ISLAMABAD, Aug 18 (APP):The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday inaugurated its first Court-Annexed Mediation Centre to facilitate timely, affordable and consensual resolution of disputes and reduce the burden of litigation on courts. Established in collaboration with the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the centre will provide litigants with a structured, court-supported forum for mediation in appropriate cases, enabling parties to resolve disputes more efficiently while …
SC inaugurates first court-annexed mediation centre
ISLAMABAD, Aug 18 (APP):The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday inaugurated its first Court-Annexed Mediation Centre to facilitate timely, affordable and consensual resolution of disputes and reduce the burden of litigation on courts.
Established in collaboration with the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the centre will provide litigants with a structured, court-supported forum for mediation in appropriate cases, enabling parties to resolve disputes more efficiently while retaining control over the outcome.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Chief Justice of Pakistan, judges of the Supreme Court, members of the Supreme Court Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Committee and ADR Task Force, the EU Ambassador to Pakistan, UNDP representatives, Secretary Ministry of Law and Justice, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, members of the Bar, accredited mediators and Supreme Court officers.
The inauguration plaque was unveiled by the Supreme Court ADR Committee, headed by Justice Shahid Waheed and comprising Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, along with the EU Ambassador and UNDP representative.
Speaking on the occasion, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb highlighted the progress towards establishing a comprehensive ADR ecosystem within the justice system, saying institutionalization of mediation would broaden avenues available to litigants for dispute resolution.
Justice Shahid Waheed, Chairman of the Supreme Court ADR Committee, underscored the role of mediation in providing timely and cost-effective remedies, reducing unnecessary litigation and allowing judicial resources to focus on cases requiring formal adjudication.
The EU and UNDP representatives reaffirmed their commitment to supporting justice sector reforms and welcomed the centre as an important institutional development aimed at improving access to justice, reducing court congestion and facilitating timely and mutually acceptable settlements.
The Supreme Court and the Legal Aid Society also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering technical support, capacity building and operational assistance for sustainable functioning of the centre.
The initiative forms part of the Supreme Court’s broader citizen-centric reform agenda aimed at making justice delivery more timely, affordable, accessible and responsive to public needs.
