The Center for International Investment and Commercial Arbitration (CIICA) is Pakistan’s first international arbitration center that offers both domestic and international arbitration and mediation services.
CIICA is also the first and currently the only arbitration/ADR center in Pakistan that has been granted a license by and registered with the Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) in compliance with Pakistan’s new ADR regime.
Since its establishment in April 2015, CIICA has been raising awareness of the importance and relevance of both domestic and international arbitration. CIICA started offering both domestic and international arbitration services in May 2016 after finalization of its institutional arbitration rules, constitution of its Arbitration Court/Council, its Secretariat and its panel of arbitrators.
CIICA also offers expedited arbitration services whereby a sole arbitrator renders an award within 90 days.
Over the years, CIICA has conducted several conferences and training workshops and built capacity in arbitration among law students, lawyers, engineers and commercial court Judges. CIICA is also working on modernization/reforms of Pakistan’s arbitration regime and has constituted a committee to that end.
Why Arbitration?
– Time and cost efficient
– Impartial arbitral tribunal having relevant experience and expertise
– Confidential proceedings
Why CIICA?
a. Institutional integrity and expertise
– CIICA’s Arbitration Council/Court is chaired by a Former Supreme Court Justice of Pakistan
– CIICA’s panel of arbitrators comprises 4 former Supreme Court Justices of Pakistan, leading international arbitration practitioners and industry experts
– CIICA’s Advisory Council comprises 2 Former Attorneys General for Pakistan and a former Federal Minister for Law and Justice, Pakistan
b. Efficiency and convenience of institutional arbitration proceedings
– Clear set of rules designed to move arbitration proceedings swiftly
– Timely appointment of arbitrators
– Panel of arbitrators comprising former Judges, leading lawyers and industry experts
– Oversight of arbitration proceedings by the CIICA Arbitration Council/Court
– Professional administrative assistance through CIICA’s Secretariat
Learn more here: https://ciica.org/arbitration/ciica-arbitration-rules/
CIICA’s Expedited Arbitration Services
Is your dispute amount less than USD 600,000 (approximately Pak Rs. 100 million)?
Would you like to have it decided within 90 days?
Under CIICA’s Expedited Arbitration Rules, a sole arbitrator will decide such a dispute within 90 days.
Learn more here: https://ciica.org/arbitration/ciica-expedited-arbitration-rules/
CIICA’s online arbitration and mediation services
CIICA is currently the only private dispute resolution institution in Pakistan offering online arbitration and mediation services
Learn more here: https://ciica.org/onlinefiling/
Pakistan, before creation of CIICA, has been lacking in arbitration institutions. - (Toby Landau QC, Barrister Essex Court Chambers, London)
If we could strengthen this organization (CIICA) we could decrease the burden on our courts and the speed of justice will increase while the cost of seeking justice would decrease.- Musadiq Malik (Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan)
CIICA will develop a home based capacity by training local people in the highly technical field. Local training will not only make a difference in safeguarding our commercial interests but will also better equip our bureaucrats. - Chaudhry Sarwar (Former Governor, Punjab)
To date, all international arbitration matters to which Pakistani government institutions, statutory and commercial bodies have been a party to have take place outside of Pakistan because we did not have such a Center (CIICA). - Shahid Hamid (Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of Pakistan)
Centers such as CIICA will help attract foreign investment and help the resolution of disputes. - Justice (Retd.) Sheikh Riaz (Former Chief Justice of Pakistan)
CIICA has embarked on a challenging though noble journey to spread the benefits of commercial arbitration to Pakistani organizations. It may be a path well-travelled in other countries but one that breaks new ground in Pakistan.- Humayun Akhtar (Former Federal Minister of Commerce, Pakistan)
Initiatives like the establishment of CIICA will prove to be a milestone on the way to improving the global ranking of Pakistan as one of the preferred investment destinations. - Lubna Pathan (Former Director General, Projects & Policy Research, Punjab Board of Investment and Trade)
We need to rehash our laws to protect the state from dispute resolution issues faced in the past. This is where I see this initiative as key because CIICA’s objectives include capacity building, research and analysis, legal and legislative advice. - Nudrat Piracha (Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators)
