Launching a New Chapter in Pakistan–China Legal Engagement
On 8 December 2025, the Parvez Hassan Centre for Chinese Legal Studies (PHCCLS) at the Shaikh Ahmad Hassan School of Law (SAHSOL), LUMS, formally inaugurated its flagship Chinese Executive Programme, Law in Practice: Navigating Cross-Border Business. The launch marks a significant milestone in the Centre’s ongoing efforts to strengthen legal capacity, academic collaboration, and practical understanding between Pakistan and China, particularly in the context of cross-border commercial engagement.
The inaugural ceremony was honoured by H.E. Zhao Shiren, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Lahore, whose participation reflects the continued support of the Chinese Consulate for the vision and work of PHCCLS. His presence serves as a strong testament to the Consulate’s confidence in the Centre’s efforts to deepen legal understanding, build professional capacity, and strengthen practical cooperation between Pakistan and China, underscoring the trust and enduring partnership that characterise Pakistan–China relations.
In his address, Dr. Parvez Hassan, Founder of PHCCLS, articulated the Centre’s founding vision of positioning PHCCLS as a premier hub for Chinese legal studies in Pakistan - one that not only deepens mutual legal understanding between Pakistan and China but also builds sustainable institutional capacity, research excellence, and professional expertise on both sides of the law. He highlighted that the Centre seeks to empower Pakistani and Chinese legal and business communities alike through research, executive training, publications, and collaborative exchange programmes, strengthening their ability to navigate evolving legal frameworks governing trade, investment, and cooperation. Dr. Hassan underscored that clear, compliant, and practice-oriented legal understanding is essential for effective cross-border commercial engagement, regulatory certainty, and long-term investor confidence.
The programme brings together Chinese executives from leading organisations and Pakistani professionals working closely with Chinese enterprises, creating a unique platform for professional exchange, cross-cultural dialogue, and shared learning. Designed as a practice-oriented executive course, it aims to bridge legal systems and business cultures by addressing the laws that govern cross-border trade, investment, and commercial operations.
The course is delivered by a distinguished faculty with expertise across key areas of law relevant to cross-border business and investment. Mr. Ahmed Hassan Khan, Advocate Supreme Court and Faculty at SAHSOL, leads sessions on the Introduction to the Pakistan Legal System and Contract Law, while Dr. Aisha Ahmad, Assistant Professor at SAHSOL, teaches Government-to-Government Investment Frameworks, with a particular focus on China, Pakistan, and CPEC.
Modules on Partnership Law, Company Law, and Bankruptcy, Insolvency, and Winding-up are delivered by Dr. Sheharyar Sikander Hamid, Assistant Professor at SAHSOL, practical insights into corporate governance and business sustainability. DIG Kamran Adil draws on his extensive experience in criminal law and enforcement to teach White Collar Crime in Pakistan.
The programme also addresses critical regulatory and dispute-resolution dimensions. Mr. Asim Zulfiqar Ali, Country Head of Tax at PwC Pakistan, covers Taxation Treaties and Financial Regulation, while Mr. Ali Sultan, Vice President of RSIL, examines Competition Law and Mergers & Acquisitions. Dr. Raza Saeed, Associate Professor at SAHSOL, leads sessions on Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution, focusing on cross-border commercial disputes.
Additional modules include Employment and Labour Law taught by Dr. Muhammad Azeem, Associate Professor at SAHSOL and Intellectual Property and Trademark Law delivered by Ms. Samar Masood Soofi, Associate Partner at ABS & Co. Uzair Kayani, Associate Professor at SAHSOL, further contributes by teaching Foreign Investment and Regulatory Frameworks and E-Commerce Law, addressing investment policy, regulatory compliance, and economic governance.
As the programme progresses, it reflects PHCCLS’s broader commitment to advancing Chinese legal studies, strengthening Pakistan–China legal and commercial engagement, and building institutional capacity on both sides of the legal frameworks that govern cross-border business. The Centre looks forward to the continued growth and impact of this initiative, and to the meaningful collaborations it will foster in laying a stronger foundation for long-term Pakistan–China cooperation.
