ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue has launched countrywide operation against the smuggled/pirated goods in coordination with the Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan.
FBR has issued instructions to all Collectors of Customs in this regard to seriously examine the concerns of IPO-Pakistan for appropriate action.
According to FBR instructions to the field formations, FBR has received complaints of IPO-Pakistan on IP rights infringement. The IPO has also forwarded list of cases involving IP/copyright violations. The Customs collectors should examine the contents of the aforesaid complaints and report/comments thereon furnished to FBR by November 2013.
Sources said FBR will take action in case of such smuggled goods across the country, wherever it feels necessary.
Sources said the Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan) is the focal government body for integrated management of Intellectual Property Rights (ie Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights, Industrial Designs, etc). IPO-Pakistan was established in 2005 as an autonomous organisation and was given permanent legal status in the form of IPO Act in 2012. IPR Enforcement Co-ordination is one of the core functions of IPO-Pakistan. Under Section 13(xviii) of IPO Act, 2012, IPO-Pakistan has powers to initiate and monitor the enforcement and protection of intellectual property rights through designated law enforcement agencies of the government, federal or provincial.
Meanwhile, in an anti-smuggling operation, MCC Gwadar’s Marine Squad seized 2020 bottles of foreign origin scotch whisky along with a Yamaha 85 HP speed boat between Pishukan and Gwadar. The speed boat’s market value is around Rs 1,500,000. The market value of 202 bottles of whisky is around Rs606,000. The MCC has also seized two buses with Iranian grease.
