Intellectual Property regulations in final stage: Chairman IPO Pakistan

A media campaign had been started against counterfeiting and piracy, creating awareness about IP rights violation.

KARACHI: Chairman Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) Pakistan Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi said on Tuesday that the legislative process for Intellectual Property (IP) regulations was in its final stage.  

Afridi was speaking at a meeting of the American Business Council (ABC) and Overseas Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) held on Tuesday.

He pointed out that training courses for IP professionals and representatives of stakeholders were progressing effectively in cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), adding that Pakistan has great potential for local and foreign investment and that it was the government’s endeavor to bring economic stability by encouraging trade and commerce related activities in the country.

Chairman IPO said that appropriate measures had been taken to upgrade the facilities in the IP registries offices and an automation project in this regard was also being implemented. Afridi said that the enforcement mechanism had been upgraded in cooperation with members of enforcement agencies and areas of mutual cooperation would be explored between IPO and trade organisations.

He highlighted the role of the corporate sector in the promotion of IP and pointed out that a vigorous media campaign had been started against counterfeiting and piracy besides creating awareness regarding punitive actions against violation of IP rights.

Director General IPO Sajjad Ahmad Bhutta, Vice President ABC Saad Amanullah Khan and President OICCI Naved Khan also attended the meeting.

Amanullah Khan and Naved Khan pointed out the difficulties being faced due to piracy and counterfeiting of registered brands adding that they were determined to cooperate in checking IP Rights infringement.

The participants at the meeting also gave various suggestions to improve the working of the IPO.