ISLAMABAD: The Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan) will start one-window operations in Karachi from March 31 to facilitate stakeholders in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) related matters.

Addressing a press conference, Chairman IPO-Pakistan Shahid Rashid said on Tuesday that all the three registries including trademarks, patent and copyrights have been housed in a single building to facilitate businesses.

IPO-Pakistan’s website, launched on Dec 29, 2016, has enabled the public easy access for IPR related information as well as online filing of applications relating to patent, industrial designs, copyrights and trademarks.

The chairman announced that the first ever National IPR Strategy is in the final stage of consultation with stakeholders. Two sessions have already been held in Islamabad and Karachi and the final seminar is being held in Lahore on March 20, 2017.

The National IPR Strategy will be presented to the Cabinet for approval. He said IPO-Pakistan has also finalised Geographical Protection Bill after due consultation. The bill is likely to be enacted in the tenure of the current parliament.

Mr Rashid also apprised the media about the forthcoming visit of the delegation of State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) of China on March 21-22 this year. It is expected that a memorandum of understanding will also be signed between IPO-Pakistan and SIPO-China during the said visit to enhance cooperation for the promotion of IPR in both the two countries.

The chairman also announced that World Intellectual Property Day will be celebrated in Pakistan on April 26.This year’s theme is “Innovations – improving lives”.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2017