Australia - Pakistan BIT (1998)

AUSTRALIA AND THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN ("the Parties"),

RECOGNISING the importance of promoting the flow of capital for economic activity and development and aware of its role in expanding economic relations and technical co-operation between them, particularly with respect to investment by investors of one Party in the territory of the other Party;

CONSIDERING that investment relations should be promoted and economic co-operation strengthened in accordance with the internationally accepted principles of mutual respect for sovereignty, equality, mutual benefit, non-discrimination and mutual confidence;

ACKNOWLEDGING that investments of investors of one Party in the territory of the other Party would be made within the framework of the laws of that other Party; and

RECOGNISING that pursuit of these objectives would be facilitated by a clear statement of principles relating to the protection of investments, combined with rules designed to render more effective the application of these principles within the territories of the Parties,

HAVE AGREED as follows:

For the purposes of paragraph 1(a) of this Article, returns that are invested shall be treated as investments and any alteration of the form in which assets are invested or reinvested shall not affect their character as investments.

For the purposes of this Agreement, a natural person or company shall be regarded as controlling a company or an investment if the person or company has a substantial interest in the company or the investment. Any question arising out of this Agreement concerning the control of a company or an investment shall be resolved to the satisfaction of the Parties.

This Agreement shall apply to investments whenever made.

Where a company of a Party is owned or controlled by a citizen or a company of any third country, the Parties may decide jointly in consultation not to extend the rights and benefits of this Agreement to such company.

This Agreement shall not apply to a company organised under the law of a third country within the meaning of paragraph 1(d)(ii) of Article 1 where the provisions of an investment protection agreement with that country have already been invoked in respect of the same matter.

This Agreement shall not apply to a natural person who is a permanent resident but not a citizen of a Party where:

Each Party shall encourage and promote investments in its territory by investors of the other Party and shall, in accordance with its laws and investment policies applicable from time to time, admit investments.

This Agreement shall not prevent an investor of one Party from taking advantage of the provisions of any law or policy of the other Party which are more favourable than the provisions of this Agreement.

Each Party shall at all times treat investments in its own territory on a basis no less favourable than that accorded to investments of investors of any third country, provided that a Party shall not be obliged to extend to investments any treatment, preference or privilege resulting from:

Each Party shall, subject to its laws applicable from time to time relating to the entry and sojourn of non-citizens, permit natural persons who are investors of the other Party and personnel employed by companies of that other Party to enter and remain in its territory for the purpose of engaging in activities connected with investments.

Each Party shall, subject to its laws applicable from time to time, permit investors of the other Party who have made investments in the territory of the first Party to employ within its territory key technical and managerial personnel of their choice regardless of citizenship.

Each Party shall, with a view to promoting the understanding of its laws that pertain to or affect investments in its territory by investors of the other Party, make such laws public and readily accessible.

The compensation referred to in paragraph 1(c) of this Article shall be computed on the basis of the market value of the investment immediately before the expropriation or impending expropriation became public knowledge. Where that value cannot be readily ascertained, the compensation shall be determined in accordance with generally recognised principles of valuation and equitable principles taking into account the capital invested, depreciation, capital already repatriated, replacement value, and other relevant factors.

The compensation shall be paid without undue delay, shall include interest at a commercially reasonable rate from the date the measures were taken to the date of payment and shall be freely transferable between the territories of the parties. The compensation shall be payable either in the currency in which the investment was originally made or, if requested by the investor, in any other freely convertible currency.

When a Party adopts any measures relating to losses in respect of investments in its territory by citizens or companies of any other country owing to war or other armed conflict, revolution, a state of national emergency, civil disturbance or other similar events, the treatment accorded to investors of the other Party as regards restitution, indemnification, compensation or other settlement shall be no less favourable than that which the first Party accords to citizens or companies of any third country.

Each Party shall, when requested by an investor of the other Party permit all funds of that investor related to an investment in its territory to be transferred freely and without unreasonable delay. Such funds include the following:

Transfers shall be permitted in freely convertible currency. Unless otherwise agreed by the investor and the Party concerned, transfers shall be made at the exchange rate applying on the date of transfer in accordance with the law of the Party that admitted the investment.

Each Party may protect the rights of creditors, or ensure the satisfaction of judgments in adjudicatory proceedings, through the equitable, non-discriminatory and good faith application of its law.

If a Party or an agency of a Party makes a payment to an investor of that Party under a guarantee, a contract of insurance or other form of indemnity it has granted in respect of an investment, the other Party shall recognise the transfer of any right or title in respect of such investment. The subrogated right or claim shall not be greater than the original right or claim of the investor.

Where a Party or an agency of a Party has made a payment to an investor of that Party and has taken over rights and claims of the investor, that investor shall not, unless authorised to act on behalf of the Party or the agency of the Party making the payment, pursue those rights and claims against the other Party.

The Parties shall consult at the request of either of them on matters concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement.

The Parties shall endeavour to resolve any dispute between them connected with this Agreement by prompt and friendly consultations and negotiations.

If a dispute is not resolved by such means within six months of one Party seeking in writing such negotiations or consultations, it shall be submitted at the request of either Party to an Arbitral Tribunal established in accordance with the provisions of Annex A of this Agreement or, by agreement, to any other international tribunal.

Once an action referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article has been taken, neither Party shall pursue the dispute through diplomatic channels unless:

In any proceeding involving a dispute relating to an investment, a Party shall not assert, as a defence, counter-claim, right of set-off or otherwise, that the investor concerned has received or will receive, pursuant to an insurance or guarantee contract, indemnification or other compensation for all or part of any alleged loss.

Each Party shall in accordance with its law:

This Agreement shall enter into force thirty days after the date on which the Parties have notified each other that their constitutional requirements for the entry into force of this Agreement have been fulfilled. It shall remain in force for a period of fifteen years and thereafter shall remain in force indefinitely, unless terminated in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article.

Either Party may terminate this Agreement at any time after it has been in force for fifteen years by giving one year's written notice to the other Party.

Notwithstanding termination of this Agreement pursuant to paragraph 2 of this Article, the Agreement shall continue to be effective for a further period of fifteen years from the date of its termination in respect of investments made or acquired before the date of termination of this Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorised, have signed this Agreement.

DONE in duplicate at Islamabad on the seventh day of February, 1998, in the English language.

The Arbitral Tribunal referred to in paragraph 2 of Article 12 shall consist of three persons appointed as follows:

Arbitration proceedings shall be instituted upon notice being given through diplomatic channels by the Party instituting such proceedings to the other Party. Such notice shall contain a statement setting forth in summary form the grounds of the claim, the nature of the relief sought, and the name of the arbitrator appointed by the Party instituting such proceedings. Within sixty days after the giving of such notice the respondent Party shall notify the Party instituting proceedings of the name of the arbitrator appointed by the respondent Party.

If, within the time limits provided for in paragraph 1(b), paragraph 1(c) and paragraph 2 of this Annex, the required appointment has not been made or the required approval has not been given, either Party may request the President of the International Court of Justice to make the necessary appointment. If the President is a citizen or permanent resident of either Party or is otherwise unable to act, the Vice-President shall be invited to make the appointment. If the Vice-President is a citizen or permanent resident of either Party or is unable to act, the Member of the International Court of Justice next in seniority who is not a citizen or permanent resident of either Party shall be invited to make the appointment.

In case any arbitrator appointed as provided for in this Annex shall resign or become unable to act, a successor arbitrator shall be appointed in the same manner as prescribed for the appointment of the original arbitrator and the successor shall have all the powers and duties of the original arbitrator.

The Arbitral Tribunal shall convene at such time and place as shall be fixed by the Chairman of the Tribunal. Thereafter, the Arbitral Tribunal shall determine where and when it shall sit.

The Arbitral Tribunal shall decide all questions relating to its competence and shall, subject to any agreement between the Parties, determine its own procedure.

Before the Arbitral Tribunal makes a decision, it may at any stage of the proceedings propose to the Parties that the dispute be settled amicably. The Arbitral Tribunal shall reach its award by majority vote taking into account the provisions of this Agreement, the international agreements both Parties have concluded and the generally recognised principles of international law.

Each Party shall bear the costs of its appointed arbitrator. The costs of the Chairman of the Tribunal and other expenses associated with the conduct of the arbitration shall be borne in equal parts by both Parties. The Arbitral Tribunal may decide, however, that a higher proportion of costs shall be borne by one of the Parties.

The Arbitral Tribunal shall afford to the Parties a fair hearing. It may render an award on the default of a Party. Any award shall be rendered in writing and shall state its legal basis. A signed counterpart of the award shall be transmitted to each Party.

An award shall be final and binding on the Parties.

The Arbitral Tribunal referred to in paragraph 2(c) of Article 13 shall consist of 3 persons appointed as follows:

Arbitration proceedings shall be instituted by written notice setting forth the grounds of the claim, the nature of the relief sought and the name of the arbitrator appointed by the party instituting such proceedings.

If a party to the dispute, receiving notice in writing from the other party of the institution of arbitration proceedings and the appointment of an arbitrator, shall fail to appoint its arbitrator within thirty days of receiving notice from the other party, or if, within sixty days after a party has given notice in writing instituting the arbitration proceedings, agreement has not been reached on a Chairman of the Tribunal, either party to the dispute may request the Secretary-General of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes to make the necessary appointment.

In case any arbitrator appointed as provided in this Annex shall resign or become unable to act, a successor arbitrator shall be appointed in the same manner as prescribed for the appointment of the original arbitrator and the successor shall have all the powers and duties of the original arbitrator.

The Arbitral Tribunal shall, subject to the provisions of any agreement between the parties to the dispute, determine its procedure by reference to the rules of procedure contained in the 1965 Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of other States.

The Arbitral Tribunal shall decide all questions relating to its competence.

Before the Arbitral Tribunal makes a decision it may at any stage of the proceedings propose to the parties that the dispute be settled amicably. The Arbitral Tribunal shall reach its award by majority vote taking into account the provisions of this Agreement, any agreement between the parties to the dispute and the relevant domestic law of the Party that admitted the investment.

An award shall be final and binding and shall be enforced in the territory of each Party in accordance with its law.

Each party to the dispute shall bear the costs of its appointed arbitrator. The costs of the Chairman of the Tribunal and other expenses associated with the conduct of the arbitration shall be borne equally by the parties. The Arbitral Tribunal may, however, decide that a higher proportion of the costs shall be borne by one of the parties.