Mazhar Bangash

Practice Areas

Mazhar Bangash is the head of Pakistan’s Trade Law Department and also heads the Kabul office of RIAA Barker Gillette, which services international clients operating in Afghanistan.

His areas of practice include international trade, trade remedies, free trade agreements, customs, corporate and finance. Mazhar's expertise in international trade law have been recognized both in Pakistan and internationally as he works as a permanent panellist at the WTO Dispute Settlement Body.

In international trade, Mazhar's expertise include WTO trade remedy instruments (anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures); tariff related matters, customs, trade policy incentives, WTO dispute settlement and free & preferential trade agreements.

Being an expert in the field, he was also involved with the drafting of anti-dumping, countervailing and safe-guard laws of Pakistan as well as revising the same in light of evolving market conditions. He also successfully defends exporters facing anti-dumping investigations at various international forums.

He has additionally carried out extensive reviews of the civil & commercial, telecommunication, energy, property, criminal, labour, banking, tax and public procurement laws of Afghanistan.

Career

Mazhar Bangash is the head of Pakistan’s Trade Law Department and also heads the Kabul office of RIAA Barker Gillette, which services international clients operating in Afghanistan. He joined the firm in 2009. Mazhar previously worked with the National Tariff Commission and the Trade Remedy Investigating Authority of Pakistan as its Chief Legal Officer. He was involved in the drafting and implementation of anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguards laws of Pakistan. Mazhar successfully defends exporters facing anti-dumping investigations at various international forums.

Professional Memberships

1. Member of the Khyber PakhtunKhwa Bar Council

2. Member of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association

3. Enrolled as an Advocate High Court

4. Member/Panellist at the Dispute Settlement Body of the World Trade Organization

Personal

University of Peshawar: Bachelor of Arts;

University of Peshawar: Bachelor of Laws; and

University of Wales: Master of Laws

Clients

Key clients that have engaged Mazhar include:

• Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation ;

• House of Rockville;

• DAI - Pakistan Regional Economic Integration Activity (PREIA) ; and

• IFC, World Bank

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Pakistan and Afghanistan

Industry Sector Expertise

Mazhar's international trade expertise includes WTO trade remedy instruments (anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures); tariff related matters (tariff and non-tariff assistance/protection to the domestic industries); customs; trade policy incentives; WTO dispute settlement; and free and preferential trade agreements.

Mazhar previously worked with the National Tariff Commission and the Trade Remedy Investigating Authority of Pakistan as its Chief Legal Officer. He was involved in the drafting and implementation of anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguards laws of Pakistan. Mazhar successfully defends exporters facing anti-dumping investigations at various international forums.

Mazhar has made significant contributions towards Afghanistan jurisdiction where he advises multinational companies and NGO’s on their corporate matters in the country, including registrations/incorporations; government approvals; licensing; good governance and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Languages Spoken

1. English

2. Urdu

Work Highlights

1. Assisted IFC, World Bank in completing the preparatory work for the establishment and operation of a digital central trade hub, known as Pakistan National Single Window, for clearance of cross-border consignments.

2. Represented exporters of paperboard from Korea to the Philippines, in an anti-dumping investigation initiated by The Philippines.

3. Assisted DAI - Pakistan Regional Economic Integration Activity (PREIA) in the establishment of a comprehensive regime in Pakistan for the swift and effective resolution of disputes relating to the export and import of goods and services including import and export through e-commerce.

4. Represented Pakistani and UAE based exporters in an anti-dumping & anti-subsidy investigation initiated by Canada. Based on the submissions, the case was decided in favour of Pakistani exporters and no anti-dumping duties were imposed.

5. As part of a consortium, advised the stated owned Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation in connection with the best possible commercial utilisation of fifteen of its ideally located motels in the northern part of the country on public private partnership basis.

Education