ISLAMABAD:The European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)has partnered the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA) to support the academy and the Supreme Court in promoting mediation in civil and commercial cases to reduce case pendency and improve access to justice for all in Pakistan where the judiciary faces the challenge of a huge case backlog.

In this endeavor, the UNDP under the EU-funded 20 million euros ‘Deliver Justice Programme’, brought experts from the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) to conduct a week-long accreditation workshop in Islamabad on mediation for 24 high court and district court judges including eight women judges from across the country.

Amidst backlog of cases, mediation can plan an important role as an affordable and efficient alternative dispute resolution mechanism to expedite justice, UNDP says in a press release on Thursday.

EU, UNDP support Supreme Court,FJA in promoting mediation in civil, commercial cases

The mediator accreditation workshop marked the ongoing and fruitful collaboration between the EU,UNDP,and FJA to promote court-annexed mediation for both civil and commercial issues in Pakistan.

Underlining the importance of mediation, Supreme Court Judge, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, in his address, said, “Alternative Dispute Resolution is the future of Pakistan. It is the best solution to rising pendency. It will drastically and tremendously reduce our pendency.”

Showing his unwavering commitment to Alternative Dispute Resolution, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said: “Court annexed Alternative Dispute Resolution Model is a safe model to start with and we must focus on it.”

Head of Cooperation,EU Delegationto Pakistan, Jeroen Willems emphasized that the EU is committed to supporting Pakistan to ease the backlog of over 2.4 million cases and improve access to justice.

Today’s accredited training, the court-annexed mediation centers supported by the EU in Balochistan, and thetraining provided to the Dispute Resolution Councils in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, are but a few examples of our work on piloting alternative dispute resolution activities across Pakistan.

“As we have seen in other countries, such EU investments in alternative dispute resolutions will ultimately enable easier access to justice and faster case dispensation,” he added.

Signifying the importance of accredited mediation, Chief Executive Officer of Singapore International Mediation Centre, Chuan Wee Meng stated: “Mediation plays a crucial role in resolving disputes efficiently and cost-effectively while reducing judicial burdens and preserving relationships. This workshop marked a significant step toward sustainable dispute resolution, ensuring timely, affordable justice and stronger relationships in the region.”

Speaking on the occasion, FJA Director-General, Hayat Ali Shah said that the workshop is a crucial step towards developing the judges’ capacity to improve the delivery of justice in Pakistan. “With the EU and UNDP as our partners, we remain committed to serving justice to the people of Pakistan,” he said.

Under the EU-funded ‘Deliver Justice Programme’, UNDP supported the rebuilding and refurbishment of five mediation centers in Balochistan across the five districts of Pishin, Hub, Khuzdar, Loralai, and Sariab.

In addition, UNDP partnered with Sindh Judicial Academy to train 25 judges, five of whom were women from various districts in Balochistan on mediation.

In 2025, UNDP will establish three more mediation centers in Balochistan’s Zhob, Uthal, and Ziarat districts under the same EU-funded programme.

Since last month, the newly renovated Sariab Mediation Centre has been used to resolve over forty cases, primarily related to domestic disputes, with each case taking an average time of two to three weeks for resolution, while the Pishin Mediation Centre has settled 61 cases in its first 25 days, UNDP says.

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Van Nguyen expressed the hope that the partnership between UNDP, FJA, and the EU to advance the Supreme Court’s efforts to promote alternative mediation pathways for civil and commercial cases will decongest the court system, and ensure affordable, dignified, and timely access to justice for all.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2024