Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Commerce, chaired by Senator Anusha Rahman, convened for the second day of its inaugural sessions today at Parliament House. The focus was on reviewing the operations and performance of the Ministry of Commerce and its affiliated bodies, including significant discussions on intellectual property and trade development.

According to Senate of Pakistan, the meeting began with a briefing from the Director-General of the Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPO). The discussion highlighted concerns about the functioning of the IPO in the absence of its chairman, who was on official travel. The committee examined the IPO’s role in registering IP laws, enforcing IP rights, and its advisory capacity to the government on IP-related policies.

Further briefings addressed Pakistan’s engagement with international IP treaties, including the WIPO treaty and the Berne Convention, along with improvements in Pakistan’s IP rankings and compliance with international standards. Senator Rahman voiced concerns over the lengthy IP registration process and the need for faster digitalization.

The session also covered topics related to trade, with updates from the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) on initiatives like the Look Africa plan and partnerships with key international markets. Discussions extended to the operations of the Export Development Fund (EDF) and the recruitment challenges it faces.

Concerns were raised about the prolonged vacancy of the CEO position at the Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) and the effectiveness of the National Tariff Commission in influencing tariff reforms.

The committee emphasized the importance of efficient management in governmental organizations to bolster Pakistan’s trade potential and IP governance. The meeting adjourned with plans to reconvene on Friday to further these discussions.