ISLAMABAD: The ministry of commerce on Saturday announced that it has approved 10 products for registration as Geographical Indications (GI).

The products include Chaunsa and Sindhri mangoes, Kinnow, Hunza Ruby, Swat Emerald, Kashmiri Tourmalin, Skardu Topaz and Aquamarine, Peridot Stone and Peridot Valley.

GI will serve as the potential economic tool to promote and enhance national and international trade by allowing premium price for Pakistan’s products. It will also allow ‘Made in Pakistan’ products to empower country’s branding, which is missing in the exports basket.

Decision is expected to promote national and international trade

The GI law can protect Hunza apricots, Charsadda (Peshawari) chappal, Multani halwa, Hala’s Ajrak, Kasuri methi, Dir knives, Swat wild mushrooms, Nili-Ravi buffalo, Chaman grapes, dates from Dera Ismail Khan, Turbat and Khairpur and Pashmina shawls, etc.

GI is a broad term that includes indications of source and appellations of origin. An indication of source means any expression or sign used to indicate that a product or service originated in a country, region or location, such as ‘Made in Pakistan’.

The term of registration of an authorised user of GI will be for 10 years from the date of filing of an application for registration. This exclusive right over the use of GI will be extendable for another 10 years.

GI is an intellectual property right given to a person over the creation of their minds for a certain period of time. Member countries of the World Trade Organisation need to give protection to GIs under Article 22-24 of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Pro­perty Rights agreement.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2021