Alternative Dispute Resolution Expert

The Revenue Mobilisation, Investment and Trade (REMIT) programme (2021–2027), funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by Adam Smith International (ASI), provides technical assistance to the Government of Pakistan to strengthen macroeconomic stability, enhance governance systems, and improve conditions for sustainable economic growth.

A central component of this support is the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Economic Governance Reforms (PM-EGR), a comprehensive, time-bound reform programme approved on 31 December 2025. The PM-EGR spans 15 priority reform areas and 141 action items and is recognised as a Structural Benchmark under the IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

A critical reform area under PM-EGR is Reform Action 5: Enhancing Predictability and Efficiency in Legal Enforcement of Economic Rights, which focuses on improving the effectiveness of economic dispute resolution systems, including courts, tribunals, and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms. These reforms aim to reduce case backlogs, improve case disposal timelines, strengthen enforcement mechanisms, and enhance investor confidence.

To support implementation, a Technical Unit (TU) has been established within the Ministry of Finance to serve as the central coordination, analytical, and reporting hub, alongside a structured Policy Dialogue mechanism (Economic Reform Conferences) to review progress and support reform course correction.

Pakistan’s economic dispute resolution system remains heavily reliant on formal court and tribunal processes, which are characterised by significant backlogs, slow case disposal, and high costs for parties. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, including arbitration, mediation, and conciliation, offer a critical complement to formal systems, providing faster, more accessible, and less adversarial pathways to resolve commercial and economic disputes.

However, ADR mechanisms in Pakistan remain underdeveloped and insufficiently institutionalised. Key challenges include:

• Limited awareness and uptake of ADR among businesses, investors, and legal practitioners

• Absence of a comprehensive, coherent regulatory and institutional framework governing ADR processes

• Weak enforceability of ADR outcomes, including arbitral awards, reducing confidence in these mechanisms

• Limited availability of trained and accredited ADR practitioners with expertise in commercial and economic disputes

• Fragmented ADR landscape with inconsistent standards, procedures, and quality across providers

Under PM-EGR Reform Action 5, a core priority is the expansion and institutionalisation of ADR mechanisms for economic disputes. Key initiatives include:

• Developing a robust regulatory and institutional framework for ADR in commercial and economic matters

• Strengthening enforceability of arbitral awards and mediated settlements

• Building capacity of ADR practitioners and institutions

• Promoting ADR uptake among businesses, regulators, and government entities

• Aligning Pakistan’s ADR framework with international standards, including UNCITRAL Model Law and New York Convention obligations

The Alternative Dispute Resolution Expert will provide dedicated technical expertise to support the design, institutionalisation, and strengthening of ADR mechanisms under Reform Action 5.

The Alternative Dispute Resolution Expert will provide senior technical advisory support on the development and institutionalisation of ADR mechanisms for economic disputes under PM-EGR. The role will focus on regulatory and institutional framework design, enforceability of ADR outcomes, capacity building, and alignment with international best practices, ensuring that ADR mechanisms become a credible, accessible, and effective complement to Pakistan’s formal dispute resolution system.

The roles and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Advise on the design of a comprehensive regulatory and institutional framework for ADR in commercial and economic disputes, covering arbitration, mediation, and conciliation.

• Assess existing ADR legislation, rules, and institutional arrangements and identify gaps relative to international standards.

• Provide technical inputs on reforms to strengthen the enforceability of arbitral awards and mediated settlements, including alignment with Pakistan’s obligations under the New York Convention.

• Advise on the establishment or strengthening of ADR institutions, including accreditation frameworks, governance structures, and procedural rules.

• Support development of standard ADR clauses, model rules, and procedural guidelines for use across sectors.

• Benchmark Pakistan’s ADR framework against international best practices, including UNCITRAL Model Law, ICC Rules, LCIA Rules, and comparable regional ADR systems.

• Identify international reform models applicable to Pakistan’s institutional and legal context, with particular reference to comparable developing economies.

• Advise on sector-specific ADR mechanisms, including for investment disputes, commercial contracts, and regulatory disagreements.

• Provide comparative analysis of ADR uptake promotion strategies and assess options for Pakistan.

• Advise on capacity building frameworks for ADR practitioners, including training curricula, accreditation standards, and continuing professional development.

• Support engagement with the legal profession, business community, and regulatory bodies to promote awareness and uptake of ADR mechanisms.

• Prepare technical notes, policy briefs, and training materials to support ADR institutionalisation efforts.

• Engage with key stakeholders including the Ministry of Law & Justice, judiciary, bar associations, chambers of commerce, and relevant regulatory bodies.

• Prepare technical notes, analytical briefs, and policy inputs for Technical Committees and Economic Reform Conferences.

• Contribute to Economic Reform Conferences through expert participation, including technical presentations and panel discussions on ADR reform.

• Support reform course correction by translating policy dialogue outcomes and implementation findings into actionable ADR reform recommendations.

• Advise on development of outcome-oriented KPIs and monitoring frameworks for ADR reform under Reform Action 5.

The consultant will report to:

• REMIT Macroeconomic Adviser

• Governance & Reforms Specialist (Technical Unit Team Lead)

• Master’s degree in, Public policy, Economics, Political Sciences,  Social Sciences and governance, or a related field; specialisation in dispute resolution, arbitration, or commercial law is strongly preferred.

• Minimum 08 years of relevant experience in alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration, mediation, and/or institutional ADR framework design.

• Demonstrated expertise in at least two of: ADR regulatory framework design, arbitration law and practice, mediation institutionalisation, enforcement of ADR outcomes, or ADR capacity building.

• Experience advising on ADR reform in developing country contexts is strongly preferred.

• Understanding of Pakistan’s legal and judicial system is an advantage.

• Experience in high-level technical advisory roles, including engagement with government institutions and development partners.

• Strong analytical, advisory, and written communication skills.

Deadline for applications is 9th June 2026.