Islamabad, February 15, 2023 (PPI-OT):The Senate body deliberated on the Bill titled “The Copy Right (Amendment) Bill,2022”. Senator Faisal Javed Khan, mover of the Bill, reiterated that the bill provides Pakistan Entertainment fraternity’s the right to receive royalties for their contribution. He further added that the majority of artists belong to lower middle class and are not getting paid for their work and the bill vowed to redress their grievances.
However, Farukh Amil, Chairman International Property Organisation (IPO), commended the bill and apprised that the IPO is working on the matter since long and intended to consult the relevant stakeholders for their input. The Committee recommended the IPO to conduct public hearing with stakeholders for their feedback on the matter in the next fifteen days. While deliberating the current trade deficit, Muhammad Sualeh Ahmad Faruqui, Federal Secretary Commerce, commented that exports have been declined around 17 p.c. and imports have been decreased around 22.5 p.c. in last seven months.
Furthermore, the senate committee was also briefed about the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for the financial year 2023-24. Muhammad Sualeh Faruqui, Secretary Commerce, apprised that two ongoing and seven new projects have been finalised for the year financial 2023-24. The ongoing projects includes Expo Centre Quetta, Expo Centre Peshawar and estimated cost was around Rs. 5000 Million but the delay in funds allocation resulted in price hike of Expo Centre Peshawar project, which current estimated cost stands at Rs. 4200 Million as per the revised PC-I of the project.
However, the seven new schemes includes Establishment of Analysis Wing in MOC, Faisalabad Garment City Phase-II, Lahore Garment City Phase-II, Integrated Skill Development Scheme for Export Enhancement of Textiles and Apparel Industry, Technical Assistance for improvement of Environmental and Social Compliance Requirements to Enhance Exports (2022-27), Establishment of Integrated Textile and Garment Park (ITGPs) Karachi, Establishment of Research and Product Development Fund and estimated cost of these projects is around Rs. 15624.8 Million.
The Chairman Committee directed the Planning Division to allocate the remaining amount for the ongoing projects, so that their timely completion could be ensured. The meeting was attended by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Senator Faisal Javed, Deputy Chairman Senator Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Senator Danesh Kumar, Secretary for Ministry of Commerce Muhammad Sualeh Ahmed Faruqui, Special Secretary for Commerce Ahmed Mujtaba, Chairman IPO Farukh Amil and other senior officers of relevant departments were also in attendance.
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