ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan has pledged the government’s support to promote partnerships and collaborations between government, industry, academia, and civil society to drive innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly emphasizing technologies supporting Sustainable Development Goals achievement. The Minister, while speaking at a ceremony organized by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with IPO-Pakistan on the occasion of World Intellectual Property Day, noted IP’s enabling role across sectors, supporting advancements in healthcare, sustainable agriculture, and clean energy solutions.
The Minister endorsed Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari’s proposals for the establishment of a world-class Expo-Center, an IT Park, and the formation of an Industrial Estate to promote trade and investment opportunities in the federal capital. He pledged to incorporate the business community’s proposals in the upcoming federal budget to promote businesses in Pakistan. He also stated that ICCI’s demand for curtailing the tenure of traders’ elected bodies from two years to one year would be given due weight.
President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari said that the business community, especially the Islamabad Chamber, is committed to promoting the cause of intellectual property rights for the promotion and strengthening of businesses. Bakhtawari stated that the establishment of a world-class Expo Centre, an IT Park, and an Industrial Estate in Islamabad will assuredly create employment opportunities for youth, nurture exports, and augment badly needed foreign exchange earnings. He also mentioned Islamabad Chamber’s initiatives for this purpose, citing the holding of a Business Opportunities Conference in UAE and a trip to Thailand to attract foreign investments through joint ventures.
Chairman Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) Pakistan, Farukh Amil, said adherence to IPRs will enhance Pakistan’s reputation as a business and investment-friendly country, adding that SMEs should benefit from the services of IPO-Pakistan for better protection of their patents, copyrights, and trademarks. The guest of honor, US Intellectual Property Counselor for South Asia John Cabeca, gave a comprehensive briefing on the subject.
Chairman Founder Group Khalid Iqbal Malik, while underscoring the significance of Intellectual Property Rights, demanded the shortening of traders’ elected bodies’ terms to one year to enable maximum members to represent the community. Secretary-General United Business Group Zafar Bakhtawari underlined the need for more connectivity with friendly countries, especially the Asian and African states, for the prosperity of the country. He also mentioned ICCI’s successful endeavors in this regard. He further stated that ICCI is going to hold an important conference to highlight the importance of direct connectivity to promote economic ties with other countries.
In their video messages, Director-General WIPO Duren Hang and Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Bilal Ahmed highlighted the importance of Intellectual Property Rights. ICCI SVP Faad Waheed, VP Azhar ul Islam Zafar, DG IPO Pakistan Shahzia Adnan, former Foreign Secretary Assad Majeed Khan, and ED Social Protection Safdar Sohail enlightened the audience during a panel discussion. At the end, Chamber shields were also distributed among the guests and key speakers.
