ISLAMABAD - President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday gave approval to the lapsed Intellectual Property Rights Organisation Ordinance (IPO-Pakistan), which would help in creation of policy board in IPO.

After a lapse of more than two years, the Intellectual Property Rights Organisation Ordinance has been forwarded to the cabinet division for approval. The IPO-Pakistan ordinance was approved on the special advice of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, IPO official told TheNation.
The IPO Ordinance lapsed in March 2010 and despite various efforts it could not be re-promulgated by the authorities concerned. The draft IPO Ordinance contains the provision of a 15 member policy board to regulate the affairs of the organization.
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference, Hameedullah Jan Afridi, Chairman IPO Pakistan, said that incumbent government would host 3-day national Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) conference on Thursday (April 26).
He said that this upcoming conference is being organized to emphasize the role and importance of management, protection and enforcement of IPRs including patents, trademarks, service-marks, copyrights, industrial designs, geographical indications, and plant breeders’ right etc. IPO-Pakistan provides protection to the IPRs of individuals and organizations through registration of IP rights. Afridi said that an IP system in the country promotes the culture of research and development.