The Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that investment and innovation could not come to the country without strict implementation and enforcement of the laws related to the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). He was addressing a national conference on Intellectual Property Rights in Pakistan, organised by Media Mark here on Monday.
The Prime Minister said that laws related to the Intellectual Property Rights needed to be fully enforced to achieve significant innovative and financial development as well as protection of the rights of consumers.
Gilani said that the government is fully alive and have unwavering resolve that a lot more needs to be accomplished to watch the interests of the consumers' legitimate rights to opt for genuine and branded products and services, negate counterfeiting and piracy, fostering fair trade practices and improvement in service delivery. "We are committed to improve our image in the comity of nations as a responsible and IP compliant nation. We need to strengthen our laws and penalties to curb counterfeiting and piracy which are eating into the vitals of our national economy", he maintained.
The Prime Minister said that we should transform our weakness into our strengths to catch up to the developed countries and cannot motivate new technologies and innovations and attract investment in the country unless we assure fair business practices. In order to achieve these cherished goals and objectives, he said, the nation need to continue to engage the press and to explore new avenues for disseminating clear and accurate information to the public of their legitimate rights. He sought the co-operation of media, saying that journalists are the custodians of information and play a critical role in creating awareness, informing and educating the public on various issues, including legitimate business practices.
Both print and electronic media, he said, are powerful and effective instruments in creating awareness among the consumers and eradication of the menace of counterfeiting, infringement and piracy of IPRs.
Media also has a key role to strive in protecting the consumer rights by supporting government efforts and actions for strengthening the IP regime in the country, the PM maintained. He said, he has complete believe in the chief of the IPR to transfer the institute into a vibrant and strong one to wage a crusade against piracy and infringement of IP rights in national interests with the co-operation of the media, stakeholders, business community, intelligentsia, and enforcement agencies. The Prime Minister also gave his complete assurance for full co-operation and assistance from the government of Pakistan.
Gilani also announced his acceptance regarding provision of plots in Karachi and Islamabad for construction of the modern office for IPR as demanded by the DG, IPR-Pakistan Khalid Bukhari. His other demand for more IPR enforcement powers will also be considered sympathetically, the Prime Minister maintained.
On the occasion, Khalid Mehmood Bukhari, Director General IPR said that due to counterfeiting, huge amount is being occurred, which is loss to the economy as well as to the creativity and innovation of the people. He underlined that violation of the IPR in Pakistan is at highest level that is why United States has put Pakistan at its watch list. If the trend is not timely checked, he warned, economic and trade embargo could be enforced against Pakistan.
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