Daily Times

KARACHI: The Sindh government’s apathetic attitude towards nomination of three members for the policy board of the Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) of Pakistan is hindering completion of the board, Daily Times has learnt.

As per details, in a bid to complete the strength of the policy board of the IPO of Pakistan, the federal government has requested Sindh government third time this year to nominate three members to complete the board. However, the Sindh government is apparently reluctant to recommend three names.

In a letter, the Pakistan Cabinet Division additional secretary has requested the Sindh chief secretary to kindly look into the matter personally and issue directions to furnish the panel of officers immediately to this office so that the strength of the board could be completed.

It is important to mention that the federal government had already requested the Sindh government to nominate three policy board members through the letters dated on March 3 and March 24, however the Sindh government did not nominate the members for the IPO policy board.

In a recent reminder on April 13, the federal government stated, “In pursuance of Section 4(2) (c) of the IPO-Act 2012, four members of the IPO Policy Board are required to be appointed by the federal government on the recommendations of the provincial governments, for which a request had been made regarding provision of a panel of three suitable nominations on the prescribed format keeping in view the approved eligibility criteria.”

The provincial governments of Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have already nominated the names for the IPO Policy Board members on the prescribed criteria. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had constituted Policy Board of IPO-Pakistan on December 31, 2014 for a period of three years. Four members out of total fourteen members are to be appointed by the federal government on the recommendations of the provincial governments.

The IPO-Pakistan was established as an autonomous body on April 8, 2005 under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division for integrated and efficient intellectual property management in the country.

The trade marks registry, copyright office and patent and design office became part of the new Organiaation under a unified and integrated management system. The major functions of the organization includes administration and coordination between all government systems for protection and strengthening of intellectual property; Management of all IP offices in the country; creating awareness about IP rights; advising the federal government on IP policy; ensuring effective enforcement of IP rights through designated IPR Enforcement Agencies (Police, FIA, and Pakistan Customs). Intellectual property laws include the copyright laws, patent laws and trademark laws.

IP is often the most valuable and least protected asset of many businesses and creative individuals. This area of law protects the work of creative individuals and businesses and protects such creation from unauthorised use or exploitation by third parties. By utilising intellectual property laws, creators and innovators can fully protect and benefit from their creations.