ISLAMABAD - Welcoming the promulgation of Intellectual Property Ordinance 2012, Centre for Culture and Development (CCD) has urged the government to ensure public representation in the policy board of the Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO).
According to CCD, the board, to be constituted under the ordinance containing 15 members overwhelmingly federal bureaucracy and corporate sector, would lack public representations to act as watchdog for the interests of the people in matters related to intellectual property rights in Pakistan. The CCD also said that apart from public representation, the IPO policy body must also include PARLIAMENTARIANS, academics, technocrats, and civil society, as their presence is vital to public awareness regarding intellectual property rights issue.
“One of the reasons for setting up the IPO given in the preamble is for the awareness of Intellectual Property Rights in Pakistan. The CCD observes that it stands contrary to the spirit of the preamble that representation in the Board is lacking from such critical quarters that can analyse, strengthen and represent the public opinion. This would include, parliamentarians, academics, technocrats, and civil society, who could help achieve the objectives of creating awareness of intellectual property rights in Pakistan”, C2D said in a press release.
The CCD further emphasised that all the under-trial cases in different
courts regarding IP laws would be transferred to tribunals, headed by special judges, drawn from existing judiciary as well as fresh recruits from the lawyers, eligible to be the judge in Pakistani courts. Tribunal would act as an appellant authority against the decisions of IP institutions, such as copy right board, trade mark office, patent office, etc. “No special procedures have been created for the enforcement of IP laws. All litigation will take place according to the existing civil and criminal procedures as embodied in Code of Civil Procedures (CPC) 1908 and Code of Criminal.
Meanwhile, due to unscheduled power outages in the twin cities, the demand for Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) units and generators has increased around 20 to 30 percent as compared to the last year. According to a survey conducted by this agency, shortage of batteries has also increased the miseries of the customers, as 200-ampere battery is being sold in black market for Rs 14,500 while its company price is Rs 11,500.
According to the wholesalers and retailers the demand of UPS has increased, as people are expecting the worst loadshedding during this summer. This year, UPS prices range between Rs 7,000 and Rs 18,000, depending on capacity of the unit. Various varieties of UPS are available in the market.
Abdur Rehman, a dealer of imported and local-made UPS, said the demand for the locally made UPS has almost doubled while the demand for Chinese UPS is low, mainly because it is costly while on the other hand repair charges of it are also high.
When asked about the demand of these items, he said it is increasing day to come and he is selling 10 to 15 UPS daily.
Most of these said that they have to cut their expenses to save money to get new power back-up equipment as there is no foreseeable solution to the energy crisis and the government has failed to fulfil its promises. Sohail Ahmed, a customer, said that despite other charges the dealers also charge Rs 1,000 to 2,000 as an installation fee for the UPS.