Construction Projects Worth Over Rs. 1 trillion Stalled Due to Legal Disputes
Construction projects worth over Rs. 1 trillion remain stalled due to prolonged legal disputes, highlighting the urgent need for a structured dispute resolution mechanism in Pakistan’s construction industry, Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) Chairman Engr Waseem Nazir said Thursday.
Speaking at the International Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Conference 2025, organized by the Lahore High Court Bar Association, he emphasized the necessity of capacity building, legislative support, a robust resolution framework, and increased awareness of ADR to resolve commercial conflicts efficiently.
Nazir pointed out that Pakistan’s construction sector lacks a dispute resolution culture due to social pressures and systemic barriers, forcing contractors, consultants, and clients into lengthy legal battles. He stressed that delays in construction disputes not only waste public funds but also hinder infrastructure development and economic progress.
To tackle these challenges, he called for strategic interventions involving regulators, industry stakeholders, and the judiciary. The PEC, under its mandate, is actively collaborating with the judiciary to establish ADR centers, aiming to make dispute resolution an integral part of the construction industry.
He announced that PEC is setting up ADR centers staffed with expert professionals to mediate disputes in large-scale projects. These centers will conduct hearings with all stakeholders and provide expert opinions to facilitate swift resolutions. He emphasized that ensuring national and international investor confidence is a priority, and these ADR centers will play a crucial role in achieving that goal.
The conference was attended by senior members of the judiciary, including Supreme Court Senior Judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, former DG Judicial Academy Justice (R) Sardar Ahmad Naeem, and Lahore High Court Justices Jawad ul Hassan, Asim Hafeez, and Sultan Tanveer Ahmad. Other notable attendees included the Chairman of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce, Lahore High Court Bar Association President Asad Manzoor Butt, Secretary Qadir Baksh, and Vice President Mian Sardar Ali.