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October 11, 2022

Director General, Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPOP), Ms. Shazia Adnan, along with her team visited Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) on October 11, 2022, to have an interactive session with the members. Rehan Sheikh, member Managing Committee OICCI, and M. Abdul Aleem, CE/Secretary General welcomed the guests.

Abdul Aleem presented a brief introduction of the OICCI as the oldest and largest chamber in Pakistan, in terms of economic contributions. Members of OICCI, over 200 top foreign investors in Pakistan, are the proud owners of Intellectual Property (IP) and therefore, monitoring of IPR regime in Pakistan has always been a fundamental part of the OICCI agenda. He shared OICCI IPR Survey 2022 results with the guests which continue to show that IPR regime in Pakistan is suffering from low priority of the Government and relevant stakeholders. As highlighted last year, this year’s survey also points lengthy timelines for registering an IP, long drawn litigation process for the protection of IPR and lack of awareness about IPR regulations, and cost of non-compliance as the top concerns. The research based foreign pharmaceutical companies based in Pakistan are quite concerned that there is no linkage between Patent Law and Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Product Registration, who continue to issue registrations to companies infringing patents, forcing the patent holders to approach court for protection of IPR at a heavy cost. Members in the survey, suggested to:

  • Increase the monetary penalty on IPR violations.
  • Simplify and expedite the IPR registration and litigation processes (digitize the processes).
  • Conduct awareness and training sessions for IPOP staff, LEAs and Judiciary.
  • Data sharing and coordination between IPOP and DRAP for increased efficiency and speed in IP filing. Patent should also be recognized at DRAP.
  • Introduce Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) platforms and time bound court/ADR proceedings.
  • Increase the number of IP Tribunals and the number of Judges at IP Tribunals.
  • Speedy execution of orders with adequate staff capacity.

Responding to the survey results and suggestions, DG IPOP shared that IPOP suffered because of lack of adequate human resource, however, now the rules have been approved which authorize the organization to hire the required staff. IPOP policy board has been reconstituted and regular board meeting will commence soon. Similarly, the organization has already requested government for additional IPR tribunals and for increasing the penalty on IPR violation. The digitization has been in focus which will result in reducing registration and litigation process. IPOP is ready to establish data sharing link with DRAP and work jointly to address the grievances of pharmaceutical companies. The DG assured her full support to resolve the issues of business community.

Concluding the session, M Abdul Aleem thanked the DG IPOP and her team for having the interactive session which was attended by a large number of members. He hoped that such interaction will result in improving IPR environment in the country and help attracting large FDI to Pakistan.