Investor confidence depends on efficiency of justice system: Justice Waheed

ISLAMABAD: To facilitate faster justice, Shahid Waheed, Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, announced on Friday that the apex court is establishing a Mediation Centre and implementing mechanisms to prioritise and fast-track high-impact commercial cases, particularly those affecting public revenue and investor confidence.

Addressing an international conference on “Strengthening Investor Confidence through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR),” organised by the International Mediation and Arbitration Centre (IMAC) in collaboration with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Arbitration Centre (OIC-AC), Turkey, Justice Waheed stressed that investor confidence depends on the efficiency, predictability, and credibility of a country’s justice system.

He highlighted that timely dispute resolution is a strategic economic asset, with ADR emerging as a central pillar of modern justice. Strong courts and robust ADR systems, he said, are essential for advancing Pakistan’s economic and governance objectives.

Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kiyani, also addressing the conference, underscored the urgent need for efficient dispute resolution, particularly in tax and revenue matters. He highlighted the proposed amendments to the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, which aim to strengthen Pakistan’s ADR ecosystem and improve investor trust.

Dr Umar AOseni, Secretary-General of the OIC Arbitration Centre, emphasised ADR’s strategic role in fostering cross-border trade and investment within OIC Member States. He reaffirmed OIC-AC’s commitment to supporting Pakistan and other member nations in developing internationally credible arbitration and mediation institutions.

Dr Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, secretary to apex committee Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), pointed out key challenges faced by investors, including the lack of standardised government contracts and the need for specialised legal expertise.

He described the establishment of IMAC as a positive step in supporting investors and boosting confidence in Pakistan’s dispute resolution framework.

Raja Naeem Akbar, Federal Secretary for Law and Justice Ministry, noted that Pakistan is actively strengthening its ADR ecosystem to support economic development and foreign investment.

He stressed that IMAC is committed to aligning Pakistan’s mediation and arbitration framework with international best practices to serve both domestic and foreign investors.

Aisha Rasool, consultant and project director at IMAC reiterated the organisation’s commitment to building a credible ADR framework in Pakistan, aiming to create an internationally benchmarked platform for mediation and arbitration.

The conference concluded with a collective commitment to enhance ADR as a strategic tool for strengthening investor confidence, ensuring legal certainty, and fostering sustainable economic growth in Pakistan, alongside increased cooperation between IMAC and OIC-AC for capacity building and institutional development.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026