Building Pathways for Conflict Resolution in Pakistan
My work extends beyond resolving individual disputes. As a pioneer in mediation and conflict resolution, I have dedicated my career to building systems, training professionals, and advancing access to justice across Pakistan.
Through leadership roles, advocacy, and collaborations with global organisations, I work to ensure mediation is recognised not just as an option, but as a trusted foundation for justice.
I co-founded The ADR Initiative with a clear mission to make mediation a mainstream, accessible, and trusted part of Pakistan’s justice system.
Through this work, I have:
- Introduced Pakistan’s first IMI-accredited mediation training in five languages Urdu, Sindhi, Punjabi, Pashto, and English enabling access for communities nationwide.
- Developed online mediation training programs reaching participants in over 20 cities, breaking geographical barriers and expanding the reach of ADR.
- Trained hundreds of judges, lawyers, HR leaders, and students, equipping them with skills to resolve disputes constructively and embed mediation into their work.
- Raised national awareness on mediation through conferences, media engagement, and roundtables with policymakers, helping shape Pakistan’s ADR landscape.
- Pioneered family and workplace mediation, introducing structured, culturally sensitive processes that have helped families rebuild trust and workplaces restore productivity.
“The ADR Initiative was born from my belief that every person in Pakistan deserves respectful, fair, and affordable conflict resolution a path to justice that heals rather than divides.”
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I founded The Justice Initiative as a platform to bridge the gap between legal rights and real life access to justice. My goal was simple to make the law understandable, accessible, and usable for the people who need it most.
Through this work, I have:
- Advocated for access to justice by training students, women in shelters, and survivors of GBV on their rights in marriage, divorce, custody, and maintenance empowering them to make informed choices about their futures.
- Simplified and translated complex laws into clear, practical language including translations from English to Urdu, Pashto, and Sindhi so communities across Pakistan can understand and use the law.
- Simplified and translated complex laws into clear, practical language including translations from English to Urdu, Pashto, and Sindhi so communities across Pakistan can understand and use the law.
- Designed and disseminated online legal awareness content through videos and campaigns, reaching thousands of people and demystifying Pakistan’s legal processes.
- Led awareness campaigns that promote mediation and other alternatives to litigation, helping communities see that justice can be accessible, affordable, and humane.
“The Justice Initiative exists to turn legal knowledge into real empowerment ensuring that ordinary people can claim their rights with confidence and dignity.”
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Collaborations & Partnerships
Through my work with the ADR Initiative and SAZH Consulting (where I am a partner) I have collaborated with international and national organisations, including:
Asia Foundation
Partnered with Asia Foundation to strengthen Pakistan’s dispute resolution framework. This included:
- Mainstreaming ADR through awareness campaigns such as hosting webinars, roundtables, and training programs.
- Research and policy work on foreign exchange (FOREX) and foreign investment dispute (FID) frameworks, helping improve accessibility and enforcement mechanisms through ADR.
IMI (International Mediation Institute)
Brought IMI-accredited mediation trainings to Pakistan the first initiative of its kind raising the bar for professional mediator training. This effort has helped create a pool of mediators who meet global standards and can serve both domestic and international clients.
USAID & SAZH Consulting
Collaborated with USAID and SAZH Consulting on projects aimed at developing Pakistan’s trade dispute resolution regime. This work involved research, stakeholder engagement, and recommendations to create faster, more efficient processes for cross-border and domestic trade disputes.
Crowther Mediation (UK)
Worked with Crowther Mediation, UK, to exchange best practices in mediation and dispute resolution bringing international expertise to strengthen Pakistan’s mediation landscape.
“Collaboration is the foundation of sustainable change no single institution can advance justice alone.”
Training & Capacity Building
For over a decade, I have been dedicated to building Pakistan’s capacity for peaceful dispute resolution. My training programs go beyond theory they are practical, experiential, and designed to create real change.
I have trained and mentored:
- Judges – equipping them to refer cases effectively and integrate ADR into court systems.
- Lawyers – helping them become skilled mediators and negotiators.
- Corporate Leaders & HR Teams – designing workplace conflict management systems and training them to prevent disputes.
- Professionals & Practitioners – from diverse industries seeking to resolve disputes constructively.
- Students & Young Leaders – empowering the next generation with negotiation and mediation skills.
- ADR Trainers – building a growing network of local trainers who continue to spread ADR knowledge across the country.
Our Impact
Over the past decade, our work has transformed the landscape of dispute resolution in Pakistan.
- 1,000+ Professionals Trained – including judges, lawyers, corporate leaders, HR teams, educators, and students.
- Nationwide Reach – delivering both in-person and online programs that connect participants from every corner of Pakistan.
- Pioneering Family & Workplace Mediation – among the first to introduce structured mediation systems in these areas, setting a precedent for others to follow.
- Global Standards, Local Access – bringing internationally accredited mediation training to Pakistan in five languages (Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, and English).
- Awareness at Scale – running campaigns, webinars, and community programs to make ADR accessible and understandable for ordinary citizens.
- Capacity Building for Trainers – creating a network of qualified ADR trainers to multiply impact across sectors and regions.
- Policy & Legal Reform – contributing to roundtables, research, and advocacy efforts that influence ADR legislation and regulatory frameworks.
- Empowering Women & Youth – designing justice initiatives that teach legal rights and conflict navigation skills to vulnerable groups.
Our mission is to make ADR a cornerstone of Pakistan’s justice system faster, fairer, and more humane for all.
Thought Leadership
I contribute to shaping the field of mediation and ADR through:
Awareness Campaigns & Advocacy
I speak at conferences, universities, bar councils, and conduct workshops to spread knowledge about ADR and inspire a cultural shift toward peaceful dispute resolution.
Driving Policy Change
I work to integrate mediation into Pakistan’s courts and organizations through stakeholder consultations, research, and advocacy engaging legal leaders to institutionalize ADR as a trusted part of the justice system.
Capacity Building & Innovation
I design and deliver training programs for lawyers, mediators, educators, and community leaders, empowering them with the skills to resolve disputes constructively. I also develop innovative tools and frameworks to make mediation accessible, practical, and sustainable across sectors.
"True leadership is not about authority. It is about building systems where justice becomes accessible, dignified, and sustainable."
-Mehak Zaraq Bari
If you are an organisation, policymaker, or institution seeking to build mediation into your systems, I would be honoured to collaborate. Together, we can shape justice that works for all.