MULTAN, May 28, 2025: An interactive session on protection of IP rights for agriculture sector was held at Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Multan on 28 May, 2025 by the Chairman IPO-Pakistan. 

The MCCI team was represented by Major (R) Tariq Khan, Chairman Agri-Committee MCCI, Mr. Muhammad Shafiq, Secretary General, MCCI, Rana Asif Hayat Tipu, Secretary General, Multan Mango Growers Association (MMGA), Mr. Jahanzeb, Member Agri-Committee MCCI, Mr. Imran Hussain, Member Agri-Committee MCCI.

Chairperson IPO highlighted the importance of the IP in for the business community and protection of Geographical Indications and Genetic Resources in particular for the Agricultural Industry. He elaborated on the use of Genetic Resources and GIs by competing countries to secure full economic benefit for their nations.

During the frank interactive session with the participants, he emphasized that the adoption of the international Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, and Traditional Knowledge (GRATK) by WIPO marked a major step forward for developing countries in establishing effective strategies to prevent the misappropriation of GRs.

Major (R) Tariq Khan informed about the prominent GIs and GRs of Multan region and efforts of MCCI to get protection of these indigenous rights of Multan at national and international level. He outlined that Agricultural businesses were fully aware of the importance of IP but much more needed to be done.

Mr. Muhammad Shafiq, Secretary General, MCCI requested the Chairman IPO-Pakistan to open an IP Help Desk at MCCI for guidance of members about filing of IP applications. The Chairman IPO-Pakistan appreciated the idea and advised the Secretary General MCCI to nominate some focal person from MCCI who will be trained by IPO-Pakistan about IP application filing. He will be the representative of MCCI to coordinate with IPO-Pakistan on behalf of the Chamber.

The Consultative Session afforded a detailed discussion with a lively Q&A session. The participants, in contributing their constructive inputs, outlined in detail the challenges that the Agricultural Industries of Southern Punjab faced. The participants agreed upon the importance of the GRATK Treaty but stressed that there had to be a holistic embrace of IP nationally to make it truly effective, especially in terms of Enforcement and simplification of procedures. Chairperson IPO stated that IPO's efforts were to streamline and simplify the procedures especially to include Urdu for more comprehensive awareness penetration; to further digitalize the processes to increase ease of applications; and support the business community's advocacy of stiffer penalties for IP abuse, especially by repeat offenders.

Source: https://ipo.gov.pk//node/3109