24 January 2004	Saturday	01 Zilhaj 1424

ISLAMABAD, Jan 23: The government has set up four sub- committees to recommend steps for making intellectual property rights laws more effective to check the menace of piracy.

According to an official announcement issued by the commerce minister here on Friday, the committees were constituted at a meeting chaired by secretary commerce, Kamal Afsar.

These committees would look at the issues relating to pharmaceuticals, software, fast moving consumer goods, durables, piracy of books and electronic media.

Mr Kamal asked the members of the sub-committees to work intensively and send their recommendations within four weeks so that further concrete actions in this regard could be taken as early as possible.

The secretary said that adequate protection of intellectual property rights was an important prerequisite for attracting foreign direct investment in particular and rapid economic growth in general.

The meeting was attended by chief executives of multinational enterprises operating in Pakistan, representatives of national enterprises, consumer rights advocates and other stakeholders in the intellectual property issues.