RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Directorate General of IPR (Intellectual Property Rights)

Enforcement, Pakistan Customs, is taking steps to improve the country’s IPR global ranking, while it has seized goods worth Rs 345 million in 179 cases up to April 30, 2019.

Sources told Business Recorder here on Tuesday that the directorate is also pursuing several global issues and trying to remove its name from watch list of the US trade representative. The directorate is also improving IPR global ranking and planning to issue IP national wise alert in collaboration with national and international organisations like World Customs Organisation (WCO) and World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Latest policy and enforcement initiatives of the DG IPR included awareness seminar on IPR - FPCCI at Karachi, registration as National Contact Point for Customs Operation Hygiea, seminar on IPR for Customs officers, 17th April 2019 at Islamabad, counterfeit goods destruction ceremony, 25th April 2019, interactive session with MNCs on 26th April 2019, and Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) meeting at US Consulate General Karachi on 2nd May 2019.

Recently, the directorate has also abolished miscellaneous counterfeit goods including watches, soaps, sprays, creams etc.

According to sources, IPO Pakistan chairman Mujeeb Ahmed Khan visited the Directorate General of Customs, IPR (Enforcement) here on Tuesday. A presentation on IPR performance was made by the Director General, Dr Arslan Subuctageen and mechanism to enhance the inter-agency coordination was also discussed.

To celebrate the International Intellectual Property Rights Day, the Directorate General of Customs IPRE arranged a abolishing event of the confiscated counterfeit goods seized by the directorate. The event was conducted at Gadap Town Karachi and was presided by Member Customs Operations Jawad Owais Agha. DG Customs IPR(E), chief collectors appraisement and enforcement and DG transit also participated in it.