National IP strategy to be developed: Dastgir

Published July 29, 2016
ISLAMABAD: Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan chairing a meeting at IPO on Thursday.—APP
ISLAMABAD: Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan chairing a meeting at IPO on Thursday.—APP

ISLAMABAD: Commerce Minis­ter Khurram Dastgir Khan has instructed the Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) to develop a National IP Strategy and fast-track pending amendments in legislation in the field of trademarks, patents, copyrights and industrial design.

The minister made these remarks while receiving a presentation from the IPO chairman after the organisation was placed under the administrative control of the commerce ministry.The minister was informed that the new web portal of the IPO will be launched next month. All the historical record of the IPO is being digitised and over six million pages of IP applications are available in digital form.

Mr Dastgir directed the IPO chief to pay due diligence before acceding to the international treaties relating to IP such as Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), International System for Registration of Patents, Madrid Protocol, International System for Registration of Trademarks and internet treaties like World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Copyright Treaty (WCT) and WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT).

IPO Director General Shahid Lateef informed the minister that due to effective IPR coordination with enforcement agencies and practical measures taken by IPO, the United States has removed Pakistan from Priority Watch List this year.The minister also directed the IPO to keep a close liaison with the WIPO to seek latest information on the IPR negotiations and enhance the capacity building of the officers.

He directed promotion of a positive image of Pakistan worldwide by protecting IPRs.

It is the responsibility of all stakeholders in the public and private sectors to provide such an environment in the country which should be helpful for creativity and stringent for piracy and counterfeiting, Mr Dastgir said.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2016

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