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ISLAMABAD: Chairman, Intellectual Property Organisation IPO Pakistan, Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi, said the functioning of intellectual organisation would be streamlined by adopting appropriate measures aimed to provide a solid base of economic development.
Briefing representatives of different business and trade-related organisations here on Thursday, Mr Afridi stressed the need for establishing a piracy free culture by paying respect to intellectual property rights of each other, and said that, this gesture would develop a healthy atmosphere of economic development.
The chairman attended a meeting of 184-member states at Geneva-based the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) last week. He said that a landmark decision was taken to call a diplomatic conference to agree an international treaty on the rights of performers in their audiovisual performances.
Mr Afridi said that heads of regional groups and individual member states also welcomed the outcome of the assemblies and the positive spirit among member states.
Regional groups specifically underlined the decisions to convene a diplomatic conference on the rights of performers in their audiovisual performances, renewal of the mandate of the Inter-governmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC).
An official statement issued here said that it was the prerogative of IPO-Pakistan to protect the rights of manufacturers as well as consumers by allowing only legal business practices and taking action against violation of IP laws.
He said: “We are committed to boost economic activities and it could not be happened without the strict implementation of relevant laws and code of ethics.”
He reiterated his resolve that Pakistan would be made a competitive market for all business entrepreneurs by safeguarding their interests and protecting legal rights.
He informed that a number of initiatives are in progress for capacity building of concerned officials and refresher course are being conducted to update the knowledge of stakeholders.
Mr Afridi said that current critical economic conditions need immediate attention and all matters relating to the trade and commerce sectors required to be resolved on priority basis because “we can only overcome the gigantic issues of poverty, unemployment and backwardness by expansion of economic activities.”
He highlighted the role of chambers of commerce and industries in national development and said that all avenues would be explored to encourage industrialisation in the country and favourable environment should be provided for increasing exports by safeguarding the IP rights.
