On Thursday, the Ministry of Commerce declared that it would register Himalayan pink salt extracted from the Salt Range that stretches as Geographical Indications along the south of the Potohar Plateau and the north of the Jhelum River (GI).
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Commerce Adviser Razak Dawood with the Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) Pakistan. Also attending the meeting was IPO Chairman Mujeeb Ahmed Khan.
An official announcement claimed that GI registration of products from different regions of Pakistan was discussed during the meeting. The move aims to curb other countries’ illegal use of Pakistan’s GI.
We have agreed that pink salt from the Salt Range mountains of Pakistan will be registered as GI after registration of rice,” the consultant said, adding that this will encourage and motivate our producers to expand their business globally.”
For that reason, with the approval of the Cabinet, a registrant will be appointed.
Similarly, it will follow a list of other items on a priority basis. In order to protect them to realise their export potential, we encourage our business community to recognise and notify IPO of other items that can be registered as GI,” Mr Dawood further said.”
The trade advisor expressed his satisfaction with the progress achieved and reiterated the importance of the registration of GIs for different goods.
The registration of GI products would serve as a possible economic instrument for the promotion and enhancement of Pakistan’s national and foreign trade.
Speedy registration would secure Pakistan’s GIs and eliminate the risk of these goods being violated, the consultant said.
He further advised the Ministry of Commerce to double its efforts on a priority basis to register potential products as GIs, the announcement added.