KARACHI, Aug 20: Industries and Production Minister Liaquat Ali Khan Jatoi has said he will soon move a summary to the prime minister requesting an amendment in the laws for the protection of copyrights and other intellectual property rights.

Addressing the members of Pakistan German Business Forum at a dinner here on Tuesday, the minister said the summary would suggest a minimum punishment of one year imprisonment or a fine of Rs0.1 million for violating the relevant act.

Mr Jatoi said the enhancement in the punishment would discourage the production of counterfeit products in the country and meet the long standing demand of foreign companies operating in Pakistan.

Referring to training of manpower in Pakistan, the minister urged Germany to provide reasonable support in this regard. He pointed out Japan was providing support for establishing technical training centres at a large scale in the country.

He said Pakistan was enjoying very cordial relations with Germany and was keen in further growth of these relations, specially in the field of economy.

He said the government was doing its best to create investment friendly climate and reforms in this regard were being carried out that included rationalization of tariff, concession and exemption of import duties on machinery and more and more facilities in export processing zones.

German Counsel General Ms Verena Graefin Von Roedern on the occasion said there were good indications at the macroeconomic level in Pakistan. She said encouraging signs of political stability and improving relations with neighbours were favourable factors for investment.

Pakistan German Business Forum president Razak Bengali said that German investment was flowing in slowly but steadily. He said that new business and industrial ventures were being taken by the German investors successfully.—APP