Nick Clements, Deputy Director of Wider Europe, Middle East, and Central Asia Bilateral Trade Relations at the UK government’s Department of International Trade, visited the OICCI to gain insights into the economic outlook of Pakistan, with a particular focus on the state of the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) regime.

During the meeting, M Abdul Aleem, the CE/Secretary-General of OICCI, briefed the high-level UK delegation, which included Hamed Kamal, Deputy Director – Trade, James Kelly, Deputy Head of Middle East and Pakistan Bilateral Trade Relations, and Nicholas Altham, Country Director Iran, among others, on Pakistan’s business landscape. The discussion covered the OICCI’s Business Confidence Index, IPR Survey 2023, and the remittance issue.

OICCI members present in the session highlighted a significant lack of enforcement in the IPR laws of the country. The survey conducted by OICCI revealed that due to the inadequate enforcement of IPR laws, companies in Pakistan experience an estimated 20% dip in their turnover, impacting the government’s revenue collection significantly. Mr Clements emphasized the UK government’s willingness to collaborate with the Chamber on various aspects.

The meeting was also attended by key officials of the British High Commission, Rehan Shahid – Senior Trade Policy Adviser and Batool Zehra - Market Access Lead, OICCI members Andrew Bailey, Umar Ahsan Khan, Sumera Naveed and Usman Altaf, and OICCI Executive Director Kashif Shafi, Senior Research Officer M Nadeem Sarwar, Corporate Communication Lead Nisma Chauhan Rajput.