ISLAMABAD: Minister for Commerce, Khurram Dastgir Khan, directed the Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) to develop a National IP Strategy and fast track its long-pending amendments in the legislation in the field of trademarks, patents, copyrights and industrial design. He remarked this while receiving a presentation from IPO Chairman when the organisation was recently placed under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce here. The proposal of placing IPO under MoC was put forward in the Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF 2015-18), which was hence, approved by the Prime Minister in March this year. In his comments on the recent administrative change, the Minister noted that this will support innovation, help create marketable and exportable IP products and boost export promotion, economic development, foreign direct investment (FDI) as well as the prosperity of genuine businesses in the country. The minister was also informed that the new web portal of the IPO is scheduled to be launched in August. All the historical record of the IPO has now been digitised while more than six million pages of IP applications are also available in digital form. Khan directed the management of IPO to pay its due diligence before acceding to the international treaties related to IP, which included Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)-International System for Registration of Patents, Madrid Protocol-International System for Registration of Trademarks as well as internet treaties like World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty (WCT) and WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT). IPO Director General, Shahid Lateef, also informed the Minister that due to an effective IPR coordination with the enforcement agencies as well as the practical measures taken by the IPO, the United States has now removed Pakistan from its Priority Watch List in the year 2016. “This is a great achievement on the transparency of intellectual property rights laws and indicates the trust the US authorities repose in the recent legislative and administrative measures taken by the Government of Pakistan in this field,” he added. The Report also mentions, “Highlights of Pakistan’s recent efforts to address salient IPR challenges include establishing and appointing IP Tribunals at Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore; establishing a timeline for the amendment of major IPR laws; imminent implementation of the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) IP Enforcement Rules; undertaking public awareness programs on IPR protection; and committing to continue regular, action-oriented engagement with the United States and stakeholders. “The minister also directed the IPO to keep a close liaison with the WIPO to seek the latest information on the IPR negotiations and enhance the capacity building of the officers of IPO-Pakistan. He said that there is dire need to work hard for the promotion of the soft 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, he said.