‘Protection of intellectual property essential for economic security’

Ambassador (retd) Farukh Amil, chief of the Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan), has emphasised the critical role of intellectual property in safeguarding national security and driving economic growth during a meeting with Ambassador (retd) Qazi M Khalilullah, executive director of the Centre for International Strategic Studies Sindh (CISSS). According to a statement issued on Sunday, the IPO-Pakistan chair stressed that a robust intellectual property system was vital for attracting investments, promoting entrepreneurship and protecting innovations in strategic technologies.

"The effective protection and management of intellectual property is essential for a nation's economic and national security," Amil said. "It encourages innovation, attracts foreign investment, and helps to build a competitive edge in the global market.”

He added that intellectual property protection was critical for the development of strategic industries such as telecommunications, biotechnology, artificial intelligence and cyber-security.

The meeting was attended by key officials from the CISSS and IPO-Pakistan, including Aftab Hussain, CISSS director research, Dr Saba Sahar, CISSS associate director and Saima Kanwal, IPO-Pakistan senior patent examiner.

The participants discussed the importance of intellectual property in the knowledge economy and its impact on national security and economic prosperity.

Khalilullah expressed interest in exploring areas of mutual collaboration between the CISSS and IPO-Pakistan to strengthen intellectual property regimes and promote research and development in strategic technologies.

"This collaboration will help identify and protect innovation and intellectual property in strategic sectors, ultimately contributing to the economic growth and national security of Pakistan," Khalilullah said.

The participants also agreed to continue exploring opportunities for collaboration and cooperation between the CISSS and IPO-Pakistan. The meeting concluded with a commitment to work together to promote intellectual property protection and innovation in Pakistan.