When a contract is breached, Pakistani law offers more than one route to a remedy, and which one to pursue depends on what the innocent party actually wants out of the outcome.
Damages
The default remedy for breach of contract, governed by the Contract Act 1872, is compensation for loss naturally arising from the breach, or loss the parties knew was likely to result from it when the contract was made.
Specific performance
Where damages would not adequately compensate the loss — most commonly with property or unique goods — specific performance under the Specific Relief Act 1877 compels the breaching party to actually perform the contract rather than pay compensation.
Rescission
Rescission cancels the contract and restores the parties to their pre-contract position, generally appropriate where the contract was induced by misrepresentation or where continuing performance is no longer viable.
Mitigation matters
A party claiming breach is generally expected to take reasonable steps to mitigate its loss rather than allow it to accumulate unchecked, and failure to mitigate can reduce the damages ultimately recoverable.
What to do next
Bring the contract, evidence of the breach, and a clear account of the loss actually suffered, so the appropriate remedy can be identified.