HYDERABAD: At least 50 products of Sindh have immense potential for marketing globally and they need to be registered in order to protect these intellectual properties.

This was stated by Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Vice Chancellor Dr Fateh Mohammad Marri while speaking at a seminar titled ‘Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, and Traditional Knowledge with Stakeholder Consultation on the Adoption of the WIPO Treaty’.

The seminar was organised by the university in collaboration with the Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) on Thursday.

According to the VC, global market has space for Sindh’s products like Red Sindhi Cow, Sindhri (mango variety), Ajrak, and Basmati rice. Although Red Sindhi Cow is native to Sindh, Brazil and Netherlands have registered modified versions under international treaties. He emphasised the need for Pakistan to take measures to safeguard its own indigenous products.

He said that other unique products from Sindh, including Indus dolphin, red rice, Palla fish and Subdasi rice also required patent registrations for protection on a global scale.

IPO Pakistan Chairman and a former diplomat Farrukh Amal discussed Pakistan’s membership in the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) treaty, focusing intellectual property for genetic resources and traditional knowledge.

He said 26 countries, including Pakistan, are part of the treaty and IPO is consulting with academia and agricultural stakeholders to establish protections for Pakistan’s unique products. He highlighted importance of recognition of these product’s economic potential.

Farrukh Amal underscored importance of

educating Pakistan’s labour force, especially those involved in production sector, about value chains while noting that countries including India were even claiming fashion designs inspired by Sindhi Ajrak.

IPO senior patent examiner Saima Kanwal emphasised potential for various products

from Sindh such as guava, handmade crafts and Sindhi pottery to be registered internationally. She urged stakeholders to contribute actively to securing Pakistan’s place in global market for these products.

A panel discussion followed with insights from Farrukh Amal, Dr Ejaz Khoharo, farmers’ leaders Mehmood Nawaz Shah, Dr Shahnawaz Marri, Mohammad Rafiq, Dr Tanveer Fatima and other experts who discussed ownership and registration of national products on global scale.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2024