IBA’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre (IBA-ADRIC) successfully conducted an International Mediators’ Training Program from January 19 till January 23, 2026, at the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA), Islamabad. The five-day intensive program was organized in collaboration with the Islamabad High Court Bar Association and the Judiciary of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and conducted in partnership with Essential Mediation Solutions (EMS), United Kingdom. It brought together an unprecedented and diverse cohort of judges, lawyers, business professionals, government officials, and students, making it the largest mediation training cohort in Pakistan to date, all learning under one roof.
The training was led by a distinguished panel of International and National Experts, including Ms. Emma McAndry, Founder & Director, Essential Mediation Solutions (UK) and an International Mediator; Judge Sufiyan Rana, Award-winning Judge of the UK Judiciary, and Mr. Bulent Sohail, Head, IBA-ADRIC. The program comprised 40 hours of structured training over five days, aligned with Pakistan’s Mediation Accreditation Rules, 2023, and international best practices prescribed by the International Mediation Institute (IMI) and the Civil Mediation Council (CMC), UK. Upon successful completion, participants became eligible to submit their profiles to the Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of Pakistan, for notification as accredited mediators, contributing directly to the institutionalization of mediation nationwide.
The closing ceremony was graced by distinguished dignitaries, including His Excellency, Mr. Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, Prime Minister, Azad Jammu & Kashmir; Justice Sardar Liaquat Shaheen Hussain, Chief Justice, High Court of AJK, Mr. Syed Wajid Gillani, President, Islamabad High Court Bar Association; Mr. Manzoor Ahmed Jajja, Secretary, IHCBA; Mr. Asif Irfan, Vice President Islamabad Bar Council and Mr. Raja M. Aleem Khan Abbasi, Member, Islamabad Bar Council. Sardar Tahir Mehmood, President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Barrister Usama Malik, Director, Directorate of Legal Affairs. Additionally, Ms. Yasmin Batliwala, CEO, Advocates for International Development (A4ID), and Ms. Aleena Nasir from the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP), U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington D.C., joined the ceremony virtually and shared valuable insights on the global relevance of mediation and access to justice.
The Islamabad High Court Bar Association provided unwavering support throughout the program, extending facilitation at every stage. The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry highly appreciated the initiative and expressed a strong desire for future collaborations in promoting mediation within the business community.
The Government and Judiciary of Azad Jammu & Kashmir applauded IBA-ADRIC’s efforts and invited the center to engage with the stakeholders of AJK to develop a comprehensive ADR framework for AJK, with the High Court of AJK assuring full support and facilitation in this regard. Moreover, a collaboration agreement was concluded with Advocates for International Development (A4ID). The Continuing Legal Education Institute of Pakistan was also launched in the closing ceremony and the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) expressed full support for initiatives on both the Continuing Legal Education (CLE) and ADR fronts. IBA-ADRIC reaffirmed its commitment to institutionalizing mediation as a key pillar of justice reform in Pakistan through the development of professionally trained mediators nationwide.
