The SAARC Arbitration Council (SARCO) is a specialized body of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Although the Agreement for the Establishment of the SAARC Arbitration Council was signed in 2005 and the institutional framework finalized in 2007, SARCO became fully operational in 2010.

Headquartered in Islamabad, Pakistan, SARCO serves as a regional hub for the resolution of commercial, investment, and other disputes through arbitration and mediation. By providing a neutral and reliable forum, it enhances investor confidence, reduces the burden on national courts, strengthens regional arbitration frameworks, and promotes private sector development & cross-border investment across the SAARC region.

SARCO is committed to:

• Providing fair, affordable, and efficient arbitration and mediation services; supporting ad hoc proceedings; assisting in enforcing awards; and maintaining curated panels of arbitrators and experts.
• Developing a robust legal framework for fair, efficient, and transparent resolution of commercial, investment, and other disputes through arbitration and mediation.
• Supporting the growth of national arbitral institutions by strengthening their operations and fostering collaboration, while serving as a central hub for regional dispute resolution efforts.

SARCO is a neutral, specialized regional institution providing neutral arbitration and mediation services for a wide range of commercial, investment, and other disputes. Its dispute resolution services are open to all contracting parties, without any membership requirements, including the following:

• Administration Services: SARCO administers disputes under its Rules of Procedure for Arbitration (SARCO Arbitration Rules) and the Rules of Procedure for Mediation (SARCO Mediation Rules), both revised in 2024 and effective 1 January 2025. Based on the UNCITRAL Model Laws, these Rules align with international best practices to provide a fair, efficient, and globally recognized framework for dispute resolution.
• Services in Other Arbitration and Ad Hoc Proceedings: SARCO also administers dispute resolution proceedings conducted under other rules or on an ad-hoc basis, acting as the trusted appointing authority, providing cost effective services.
• Case Management: SARCO Secretariat provides professional administrative support for day-to-day case management, ensuring the proceedings run efficiently.
• Appointment Services: SARCO appoints arbitral tribunals, typically one or three experts from its Panel of Arbitrators, in line with party agreements and case circumstances. It can also act as an independent appointing authority in other proceedings, ensuring impartial and reliable support.
  Arbitrators are carefully selected for independence, impartiality, and professionalism, with attention to neutrality, including the appointment of arbitrators of different nationalities when appropriate.
• Emergency Interim Relief: The SARCO Arbitration Rules allow for the swift appointment of an emergency arbitrator to address urgent disputes. Decisions can be made within 14 days, providing a confidential and efficient alternative to court proceedings.
• Financial Management: SARCO manages the financial aspects of dispute resolution proceedings, including arbitrator or mediator fees and expenses, with transparency.
• Confidentiality: Dispute resolution proceedings are conducted privately, and awards are kept confidential. This ensures that the details of the proceedings, including the award and any settlement terms, are not disclosed to the public.

Moving forward, SARCO is working to expand its visibility and stakeholder engagement, deepen partnerships with national and regional arbitral institutions and invest in digital tools for efficient case management.