Government urged to promulgate GI laws to protect indigenous products

President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Mohammad Saeed Shaifq, has urged the government t to take immediate and appropriate action to effectively implement and promulgate Geographical Indications (GIs) laws for protection of Pakistan indigenous products.
In a communication, he emphasised the need of protection of Pakistan's indigenous products like Pakistani basmati, Sindhri, Chaunsa and Anwarratol mangoes, Hala furniture, handicraft, Sindhi Ajrak and cap, Sargodha Kinno, Multani blue craft, Kashmiri Pashmina Shawl, Khairpur dates, Quetta apples, Chaman grapes, Hunza Apricot, Multani Mitti, Khanpur Oranges, Kasuri Methi, Chiniot furniture and craft, Sukkur Chuwara, Shikarpur Pickle, Peshawari Chapli kabab and other traditional goods and indigenous products.
He pointed out that the Chamber during the tenure of former President Anjum Nisar urged ministry of commerce for promulgation of GIs law and establishment of GI registry in Pakistan while the registration of GIs as certification marks by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).
He also highlighted that India had previously promulgated GI law and has established GI registry and had already registered and notified Pakistani well-known variety of "super basmati" as its own variety of rice. Besides super basmati many other products were under registration process and India may claim internationally that these are its own products, he expressed fear.
He mentioned that 70 percent of aggregate Pakistani exports comprises of the said GIs and source of foreign exchange for the government. The President further notated that in Pakistan under trade mark ordinance 2001 section 82 provides registration of GIs as collective marks which is insufficient and needs review.
Saeed Shafiq pointed out that in Pakistan, applications to register "Basmati" as GI were filed by private sector and due to clash of interest those applications were in court to establish their ownership. He believed that to avoid confrontation amongst stakeholders for other GIs, it is appropriate that government should secure these GIs through their competent authority like TDAP.