In a world where access to justice remains a barrier for many, Dr. Nudrat Ejaz Piracha, a Fulbright alumna 2020 and internationally recognized arbitration expert is harnessing innovation to change the narrative.
As part of the PUAN Grants Program, Dr. Piracha, representing PUAN Islamabad Chapter, is leading a transformative project: “Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Platform”. This groundbreaking initiative, developed under the banner of the International Centre for Appropriate Dispute Resolution and Prevention (ICADRP), seeks to build a digital, accessible, and affordable legal framework that empowers individuals, businesses, and communities who lack access to formal courts.
Through this platform, users will be able to resolve disputes via virtual hearings, AI-assisted mediation, and remote arbitration, all supported by a user-friendly and secure digital interface. Designed with underdeveloped regions and marginalized groups in mind, the ODR platform offers a timely, efficient alternative to Pakistan’s often complex legal system. It also aims to foster foreign direct investment by ensuring investor confidence in swift and fair conflict resolution.
The pilot project, developed in collaboration with U.S. experts, will include:
- A prototype software platform
- A supportive legal and regulatory framework
- Outreach and awareness campaigns to ensure adoption
Dr. Piracha brings to this project a formidable portfolio: she is Pakistan’s first woman to earn an S.J.D., a Weinstein JAMS Fellow, and the first Pakistani lawyer to become a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb), UK. She has represented clients before major international arbitral bodies including ICSID, ICC, SCC, and Ad Hoc tribunals, and served on high-level committees shaping Pakistan’s investment legal landscape.
By bridging technology and justice, this PUAN Grants initiative marks a significant step toward a more inclusive, investment-friendly, and equitable legal system in Pakistan and beyond.
