Commercial Courts Ordinance Promulgated for Early Disposal of Commercial Cases
Reform IDG182
Reform Description
Commercial Courts Ordinance Promulgated in Punjab for Early Disposal of Commercial Cases

Before: Businesses were concerned about being caught in legal disputes because there was no time limit for resolving suits, and an unlimited number of adjournments were allowed. The resolution of commercial cases often took a long time, sometimes exceeding three years.

After: This reform has improved the confidence of businesses operating in the country as more than 50% of commercial cases are disposed of within the time limit of 180 days and within 2 adjournments. It will also improve Pakistan’s ranking in this indicator in the Doing Business report.

SectorAll Sectors
BeneficiariesBusinesses of all Sectors
Jurisdiction/ LocationGilgit Baltistan
DepartmentLaw Department - Gilgit Baltistan
Date of Implementation
DetailsDifficultyBusinesses had to wait for a long time for resolving a commercial dispute. The ranking of the indicator of Enforcing Contracts in the Ease of Doing Business report was stagnant from the last three years.
AnalysisWithout legal framework, the disposal of the Commercial Cases by the Commercial Courts was very slow which exasperated the business community.
SolutionAfter establishment of Commercial Courts, ordinance was needed for efficient court proceedings as the legal framework for proceedings of Commercial Courts was missing. The ordinance fixed the maximum limit of disposal of a suit to 180 days and number of adjournments to 2.
Evidence