KARACHI: Director General of the Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan, Noman Aslam, announced that IPO Pakistan has launched an aggressive six-month digital transformation strategy aimed at modernizing Pakistan’s intellectual property ecosystem through automation, artificial intelligence, and online complaint management systems. The initiative is intended to make trademark, copyright, and patent services faster, more transparent, and business-friendly.
Speaking during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Noman Aslam said IPO Pakistan is moving away from traditional paperwork-based procedures toward a modern digital framework designed to reduce delays, improve examination quality, and minimize litigation linked to trademark disputes and registration issues. The meeting was attended by KCCI President Muhammad Rehan Hanif, Senior Vice President Muhammad Raza, former President Abdullah Zaki, members of the Executive Committee, and senior IPO officials.
The DG explained that IPO Pakistan mainly serves as a facilitating and coordinating body, while complaints regarding infringement, piracy, counterfeiting, and unauthorized use are referred to relevant enforcement agencies depending on the nature of the violation. He said Pakistan Customs handles border-related infringements and piracy, the Federal Investigation Agency deals with copyright-related cases, while police manage trademark and market-level violations.
Highlighting ongoing reforms, Noman Aslam informed participants that an Online Complaint Management System (CMS) has been launched and shared with 15 major chambers of commerce across Pakistan. The portal allows businesses to electronically file complaints and monitor cases online without visiting IPO offices. Chambers have also been given representation in IPO’s Enforcement Committees. He urged KCCI to spread awareness of the CMS among its members, particularly SMEs and startups, to help them benefit from the track-and-trace complaint mechanism designed to reduce paperwork and unnecessary visits.
He added that IPO Pakistan is working on integrating its CMS with FIA and other law enforcement agencies to establish complete digital tracking of IP complaints, with a target of resolving cases within 30 days. The organization is also implementing a six-month roadmap focused on digitalization, automation, and institutional modernization while conducting webinars, workshops, and training sessions in collaboration with chambers and trade bodies to strengthen Pakistan’s innovation and knowledge economy.
Responding to concerns regarding delays and workforce limitations, Noman Aslam said recent recruitments had helped reduce pending cases, but the organization was still dissatisfied with the pace of work. This prompted the adoption of AI-powered systems and automated processes aimed at improving transparency, consistency, and efficiency in trademark and patent examinations. He said IPO Pakistan has introduced job descriptions, performance benchmarks, and KPIs while continuously deploying AI-assisted technologies to improve service delivery. He added that more digital and AI-based services would be introduced over the next six months.
Discussing Pakistan’s international obligations, he said trademark rules and procedures are being updated, while the Patent Ordinance 2000 is also being revised in line with global technological and business developments. Following stakeholder consultations, the draft amendments will soon be forwarded to the ministry and Cabinet for approval, while copyright laws are also being modernized.
Earlier, KCCI President Muhammad Rehan Hanif highlighted concerns of the business community regarding delayed implementation of intellectual property laws. He said lengthy trademark and copyright registration procedures create major difficulties for genuine entrepreneurs and innovators, often allowing counterfeit or deceptively similar products and brand names to enter the market, causing financial and reputational damage to original businesses.
He stressed the need to improve awareness regarding intellectual property laws, trademark protection, and enforcement procedures, particularly for SMEs and startups. He proposed introducing a user-friendly digital trademark search and pre-screening facility that would allow businesses to instantly verify the availability of brand names, logos, and trademarks before filing applications, integrated with online fee submission and application tracking systems.
Muhammad Rehan Hanif also pointed out that many businesses suffer losses when misleading or deceptively similar names are approved, forcing companies into lengthy appeals and opposition proceedings. He urged IPO Pakistan to adopt stronger scrutiny mechanisms at the initial examination stage to prevent unnecessary litigation and market confusion.
He further called for clearer and more widely publicized enforcement mechanisms for trademark infringement, copyright violations, and counterfeiting cases, noting that many businesses remain unaware whether complaints should be directed to IPO Pakistan, FIA, police, or other agencies. He requested IPO Pakistan to issue comprehensive complaint-handling guidelines and awareness material, assuring that KCCI would actively share such information with its members and the wider business community.