Economic Dispute Resolution Expert - REMIT Programme

Economic Dispute Resolution Expert

Background

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.

Activity Context

Pakistan’s economic dispute resolution system faces several structural challenges, including:

• Significant backlog of cases across courts and tribunals
• Delays in case disposal and enforcement of decisions
• Fragmentation across judicial and quasi-judicial bodies
• Limited use and institutionalisation of ADR mechanisms
• Weak performance monitoring and absence of reliable data systems

Under PM-EGR, Reform Action 5 includes key initiatives such as:

• Developing methodologies for backlog reduction and case prioritisation
• Establishing performance monitoring frameworks (clearance rates, disposal timelines)
• Strengthening economic tribunals and specialised courts
• Expanding and institutionalising ADR mechanisms
• Improving enforcement of judicial and quasi-judicial decisions

The Economic Dispute Resolution Expert will provide high-level technical expertise to support the design, implementation, and refinement of these reforms, ensuring alignment with international best practices and the specific institutional context of Pakistan.

Job Summary

The Economic Dispute Resolution Expert will provide senior technical advisory support on reforms related to economic dispute resolution under PM-EGR.

The role will focus on strengthening the efficiency, predictability, and enforceability of dispute resolution systems through evidence-based reform design, technical inputs to policy dialogue, and guidance on implementation strategies.

Duties and Responsibilities

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

• Provide expert technical advice on economic dispute resolution systems, including courts, tribunals, and ADR mechanisms.
• Support design and refinement of reform actions under Reform Action 5, including backlog reduction strategies and institutional strengthening measures.
• Develop methodologies for analysing case backlogs, clearance rates, and disposal timelines across relevant forums.
• Advise on strengthening performance monitoring systems for courts and tribunals, including development of outcome-oriented KPIs.
• Prepare technical notes, analytical briefs, and policy inputs for Technical Committees and policy dialogue sessions.
• Contribute to Economic Reform Conferences through expert participation, including technical presentations and panel discussions.
• Identify systemic bottlenecks in dispute resolution and propose practical, implementable reform solutions.
• Provide guidance on expansion and institutionalisation of ADR mechanisms, including regulatory and operational frameworks.
• Support integration of dispute resolution reforms with broader governance and regulatory reform efforts.
• Advise on alignment of reforms with international best practices and comparative experiences.
• Engage with key stakeholders, including judiciary, Ministry of Law & Justice, tribunals, and regulatory bodies.
• Support reform course correction by translating analytical findings and policy dialogue outcomes into actionable recommendations.

Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced degree in law, public policy, governance, or a related field.
• Minimum 12–15 years of relevant experience in:
  • Judicial or legal reform
  • Dispute resolution systems
  • Governance and institutional reform
• Strong understanding of:
  • Pakistan’s judicial and tribunal systems
  • Economic dispute resolution frameworks
• Demonstrated experience in:
  • High-level technical advisory roles
  • Working with government institutions and development partners
• Familiarity with international best practices in dispute resolution and legal enforcement.
• Strong analytical, advisory, and communication skills.

Reporting

The consultant will report to:

• REMIT Macroeconomic Adviser
• Governance & Reforms Specialist (Technical Unit Team Lead)

Duration and Level of Effort

• Days: 41
• Total LOE: 41 Days