Centre for Chinese Legal Studies and Institute of Regional Studies Host CPEC Roundtable on Legal and Investment Challenges

The Centre for Chinese Legal Studies (CCLS) at the Shaikh Ahmad Hassan School of Law (SAHSOL), LUMS, in collaboration with the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), hosted a high-level consultative roundtable at the Marriott Hotel, Islamabad. The event focused on legal reforms, investment protection, and dispute resolution frameworks under CPEC Phase II.

Opening remarks were delivered by Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS, and Dr. Sikander Ahmed Shah, Director of CCLS and faculty member at SAHSOL. They emphasised the importance of policy modernisation, judicial adaptability, and cross-border cooperation to ensure economic stability and investment security under CPEC.

The keynote address was given by Honourable Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Senior Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and Chief Guest. Justice Shah highlighted that CPEC and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) symbolise regional continuity and shared prosperity. He proposed establishing a “Judicial Silk Road” between Pakistan and China to create an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) system tailored to BRI and CPEC-related disputes. Justice Shah stressed the need for legislative reforms to operationalise these systems and encouraged judicial dialogues between China and South Asian countries to develop harmonised dispute resolution frameworks aligned with international standards. He noted that BRI and CPEC introduce a new approach to ADR, enabling efficient settlement mechanisms and fostering legal certainty to promote regional economic integration.

Domestically, Justice Shah highlighted the need for specialised commercial courts and ADR mechanisms to address the complexities of cross-border trade and infrastructure development. He advocated for a network of arbitration centres and mediation frameworks to provide accessible and culturally responsive ADR solutions. He also recommended institutional reforms, including the establishment of ADR systems in all 138 districts of Pakistan, supported by legislative amendments to operationalise these frameworks.

Justice Jawad Hassan of the Lahore High Court, serving as the Guest of Honour, elaborated on the role of ADR in fostering investment-friendly legal systems. He discussed his contributions to Pakistan’s first Commercial Courts and emphasised the integration of mediation, arbitration, and conciliation into the judicial process to expedite commercial dispute resolution, reduce judicial backlogs, and enhance investor confidence. He further stressed the importance of embedding ADR clauses in CPEC contracts and business agreements.

Dr. Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director of Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future (PRCCSF), highlighted the significance of regional cooperation and economic diplomacy in advancing CPEC Phase II. He called for policy harmonisation to facilitate cross-border investments and ensure legal stability for investors.

Dr. Tariq Mahmood, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb), praised judicial support for ADR and recommended introducing small claims schemes for disputes under Rs. 2-3 crore, as well as adopting expedited arbitration rules. He also advocated for ratifying the Singapore Convention on Mediation to enhance the enforcement of mediated settlements and reduce court caseloads through out-of-court resolutions.

The roundtable featured insights from leading legal and policy experts, including Ms. Riffat Inam Butt, Secretary of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan, who emphasised judicial efficiency and regulatory reforms to promote sustainable investment growth. Brigadier Shozab Majeed, Director of International Law at the Ministry of Defence, discussed security frameworks to enable regional cooperation and ensure investment protection. Other contributors included Mr. Aziz Qazi, Vice Chairman of the Islamabad Bar Council; Mr. Muzaffar Ahmed Mirza, Chief Prosecutor and Head of Legal Affairs at SECP; Barrister Mian Sheraz Javaid, Chairman of CIArb Pakistan; Ms. Sarah Tarar, Dean of ICLS and Consultant Mediator at the World Bank; Mr. Rana Sajjad, Founder of CIICA; Mr. Shahzar Ilahi, Co-founder of MICADR; Barrister Zopash Khan, Co-Chair, Society of Mediators; Barrister Nudrat Majeed, Partner at Four Road Gold Chambers; Mr. Sheikh Muhammad Ali, Chairman of Lahore High Court Bar ADR Committee; Mr. Shahid Mehmood Khokhar, Chairman of the Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees (ITNE); and Ms. Sibah Farooq, legal expert and panellist.

Distinguished attendees, including diplomats from the Chinese Embassy, also participated in the roundtable discussions. Breakout sessions allowed participants to develop actionable strategies for legislative reforms, capacity-building programmes, and multi-tiered ADR frameworks to manage cross-border disputes effectively. Discussions emphasised the need for judicial training programmes, institutional reforms, and ADR mechanisms to safeguard investments and foster economic growth under CPEC Phase II.

The roundtable concluded with a reaffirmation of Pakistan’s commitment to creating investment-friendly legal systems, strengthening dispute resolution frameworks, and leveraging the potential of CPEC and BRI to promote regional economic integration and sustainable growth.