The Director General of the Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPO Pakistan), Noman Aslam, announced a six-month digital transformation strategy to modernize the country’s intellectual property ecosystem. This reform aims to streamline trademark, copyright, and patent services through automation and artificial intelligence, enhancing speed, transparency, and business-friendliness.

During a visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Aslam emphasized the shift from traditional paperwork to a digital framework to reduce delays and improve the quality of examinations. He noted that complaints about IP infringements would be directed to appropriate law enforcement agencies.

Aslam introduced an Online Complaint Management System (CMS), allowing businesses to file complaints and track cases online. He encouraged KCCI to share this information to aid SMEs and startups. The integration of the CMS with law enforcement agencies aims to resolve cases within 30 days.

To address workforce concerns, IPO Pakistan has made new recruitments to reduce backlogs and is investing in AI-assisted technologies to enhance service delivery. The organization is also revising trademark rules and the Patent Ordinance 2000 to align with global standards.

President KCCI Muhammad Rehan Hanif highlighted issues faced by businesses due to delayed IP registrations and urged for better awareness and a user-friendly digital trademark search system to prevent misleading registrations. He called for stronger scrutiny of trademark applications to protect original businesses.