LAHORE: To address Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) infringement and enforcement issues in Punjab, the Investment Climate Reform Unit (ICRU) which is an investment facilitation agency under the Planning and Development Board Punjab, held the first session of its Working Group here in Lahore.
Convened by the ICRU, the Working Group is a key result of the Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) organised under the direction of the Planning and Development (PD) board and its chairman Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan. The first session was chaired by Chairman PD Board and convened by the ICRU MD, who is also the Secretary PPD council, Maleeha Bangash.
The IPR working group meeting was convened in Nestle Pakistan’s head office where top c-level executives from Nestle Pakistan, Coca-Cola Export Corporation, Atlas Honda, Millat Tractors, HBL Assets Management, Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO), and the Ministry of Industries, Commerce, and Investment were present.
MD ICRU and Secretary to the PPD Council, Maleeha Bangash stated that “Private sector engagement in policy formulation and reform is a prerequisite for economic growth and creation of an enabling business environment”. She also informed the participants about her positive interaction with DG- IPO Mohammad Irfan Tarar, in Islamabad where he assured her of extending full support in addressing the IPR issues in the province.
During the session, the group members shared case studies regarding the impediments businesses have to face due to the infringement of IPR. It was also highlighted as a horrendous crime as in the case of counterfeit and spurious consumer products (e.g. food, beverages, automobile parts, auto lubricants, cosmetics, and so on), as it poses a threat to human life. There were recommendations for implementing a strict punishment upon the infringers to curb this issue.
A need to create awareness among the consumers and enforcement bodies about IPR was also strongly proposed and accepted. Towards the end of the session, the group embarked upon certain concrete recommendations to address the matter.
Maleeha Bangash expressed her appreciation to the members of the Working Group for their involvement and support to the government for bringing business reforms and assured that these recommendations will then be taken to the highest echelons of the government to resolve them.
