Govt to develop national GI protection strategy

Commerce minister unveils plans to establish dedicated registry, says 200 products have already been identified

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan is working to establish a dedicated Geographical Indications (GI) Registry and is developing a National Geographical Indications Protection Strategy to guide the expansion and protection of GI products both domestically and internationally.

Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, shared these plans during the National Conference on Geographical Indications Awareness, jointly organised by the Ministry of Commerce and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to promoting and institutionalising its geographical indications regime.

Delivering the keynote address, the minister said GIs are more than intellectual property tools—they are powerful instruments for preserving cultural heritage, supporting rural development, and unlocking export opportunities. "We stand at a critical juncture where Pakistan can elevate its identity in global markets—not just as a producer of commodities, but as a custodian of quality and heritage," he said.

He highlighted that Pakistan has registered 20 GIs, including Basmati rice, Chilghozas (pine nuts), Sindhri mangoes, and Multani blue pottery. Applications for international protection are underway in markets including the European Union. He stressed the need to build robust value chains based on certification, product specifications, branding, and traceability to deliver meaningful economic returns to producers.

The conference brought together a wide range of stakeholders from federal and provincial governments, development partners, registrants, chambers of commerce, academia, legal experts, and the private sector. The forum aimed to raise awareness about the role of GIs in national development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), improve institutional coordination, and promote capacity building for GI identification, value addition, and marketing.

Kamal Khan noted that 200 products have already been identified as potential GIs and appreciated FAO's support—particularly through the TRI-Chilgoza project—in identifying four potential GI zones for Chilghoza pine nuts.