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PIDW23 opening address in Lahore

About PIDW

Pakistan International
Disputes Weekend

Review. Reflect. Revive.

Lahore 2023Karachi 2024Islamabad 2025Islamabad 2026

The purpose

Pakistan needed more than another legal conference.

Conceived, designed and founded by Barrister Mian Sheraz Javaid in 2022, PIDW brings together the people who make and interpret the law, practise dispute resolution, undertake major projects and experience commercial disputes.

It is a Disputes Weekend by design: a platform for reform, knowledge exchange, professional connectivity and access to emerging markets and opportunities.

Avoid Manage Negotiate Mediate Adjudicate Arbitrate Litigate Enforce

Our journey

Four editions.
One continuing conversation.

  1. 01
    PIDW23 in Lahore

    PIDW23 · Lahore

    Where the journey began

    The inaugural edition in May 2023 brought the Bench, Bar, Government, institutions and industry into one conversation on Pakistan’s disputes future.

    • Proposed Domestic Arbitration Act 2023
    • Mediation and Singapore Convention discussion
    • CPEC and regional-seat dialogue
  2. 02
    PIDW24 event in Karachi

    PIDW24 · Karachi

    The platform became national

    Co-hosted by the Honourable High Court of Sindh, PIDW24 took reform dialogue to Karachi with stronger judicial, industry and institutional participation.

    • Court-annexed mediation and dispute avoidance
    • Energy, investment and construction disputes
    • Innovation Showcases
  3. 03
    PIDW international keynote session

    PIDW25 · Islamabad

    The platform became international

    In October 2025, LCIA joined PIDW as Co-Host, strengthening the bridge between Pakistan and the international disputes market.

    • International arbitration and UNCITRAL reforms
    • CIArb Regional Chairs and GSAA roundtables
    • Institutional and Global South connectivity
  4. 04
    PIDW26 in Islamabad

    PIDW26 · Islamabad

    The platform becomes a gateway

    10–11 October 2026 at Islamabad Marriott Hotel: the conversation turns to establishing Islamabad as a credible, internationally recognised seat of arbitration.

    Join the fourth edition

Impact & reform

Giving the conversation a life beyond the weekend.

01

Arbitration law reform

PIDW23 introduced and examined the Proposed Domestic Arbitration Act 2023. Through the Founding Chair’s efforts, the need for reform was raised with then Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, helping maintain momentum around reform. An Arbitration Law Committee was subsequently established under the leadership of a Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

02

Mediation in Pakistan

The Federal Secretary, Ministry of Law & Justice, presented on the Singapore Convention on Mediation. PIDW promoted Pakistan’s consideration of signing it and the wider, practical use of mediation—without claiming responsibility for ratification.

03

The Pakistan Declaration

PIDW carries recommendations and emerging priorities between editions: what did we review, what did we reflect upon, and what must we revive next?

Conversations beyond the stage

Smaller tables.
Deeper conversations.

CIArb Regional Chairs

A first-of-its-kind conversation in Islamabad

The PIDW25 Plenary and Working Group examined first-appointment pathways, mentoring, exchange programmes, regional training and cross-branch collaboration. This verified milestone is presented text-first while a dedicated event photograph remains pending.

PIDW delegates in institutional conversation

Global South ADR Alliance

The Global South should help shape the system.

PIDW25 brought institutions and practitioners together to discuss shared resources, capacity building, technology and cross-border collaboration.

From conversation to opportunity

Connectivity by design.

PIDW Business Matchmaking

Business Matchmaking

Networking by Chance Networking by Design

PIDW facilitates focused introductions between international and Pakistani law firms, counsel, institutions, experts, project owners, investors and advisers.

Request business matchmaking
CPEC infrastructure

CPEC Practitioner Roster

Connect with the emerging CPEC disputes market.

A developing network of qualified professionals interested in CPEC and Pakistan-related dispute work. Inclusion is not an appointment, endorsement or guarantee; parties remain responsible for selection and due diligence.

Request roster consideration

PIDW26 judicial dialogue

Pakistan ×
England & Wales

The Honourable Mr Justice David Waksman

Judge in Charge of the Commercial Court
High Court of Justice of England and Wales

His participation creates an opportunity for judicial and professional dialogue as PIDW26 examines the architecture required for Islamabad to become a credible seat of arbitration.

The PIDW difference

We are not building another Arbitration Week.
We are building a disputes ecosystem.

Avoid → Manage → Negotiate → Mediate → Adjudicate → Arbitrate → Litigate → Enforce

Judiciary + Government + Institutions + Practitioners + Industry + International Community

Review. Reflect. Revive.
Pakistan to the World. The World to Pakistan.