Intellectual property owners: IPA formed to provide platform for advocacy, representation

Intellectual Property Association of Pakistan (IPA) has been established to provide a national platform for the advocacy and representation of intellectual property owners, and to safeguard their interests and IP rights in the country.
The purpose of this Association is to make sure that intellectual property rights are absolutely protected and respected at all levels. The Association also aims to promote IP culture in Pakistan by collaborating with the various local, national and international Organisations.
The announcement of IPA establishment was made by the first elected Chairman of IPA, Farhan Hanif on Monday in a Press Conference. Hanif was accompanied by other office bearers at the conference including Tarik Feroze President IPA, Shaikh Rashid Alam Secretary General, Bilal Ahmed Poonia and Adeel Poonia convenors of IPA Zonal Office Punjab and heads of various organisations.
Hanif said at the conference that this association is formed as the National Trade Association in a legitimate way and the purpose of Association is to provide a platform for IP Owners and stakeholders on national level. In pursuance of its missions IPA will join hands for public private partnerships and play its proactive role in the implementation and enforcement of IP laws. It will also focus on efforts in conducting nation-wide public awareness campaigns.
President IPA Tarik Feroze stated that this platform will help members in combating against copycats and fraudulent business practitioners so that their business interests are safeguarded. He also stated that IPA will strictly pursue all those who involved in IPR violation and IP theft, universally IP is considered as the life blood of any economy and that we need to realise its significance and promote its philosophy in a concrete and rigorous manner; to attain this the Government of Pakistan particularly the Ministry of Commerce needs to treat the IP Industry as its utmost priority.
Secretary General IPA, Rashid Alam said that IPA will develop the first of its kind IP Directory of Pakistan which will contain information of "who owns what" in the country. He said that the Association will soon start certification representing the authenticity of original brands registered with IP Organization in Pakistan. "At the conference a charter of demand to IPO Pakistan was presented collectively, asking that the acute shortage of human resource of the Trademark and Copyrights registry be dealt with", he added.