ISLAMABAD: The protection of intellectual property is important for the growth of businesses and technology can improve the lives of millions, but only if legal protection against piracy is provided, the economic counsellor at the United States embassy said on Wednesday.

Robert Garverick was speaking at a seminar held on World Intellectual Property Day, organised by the Intellectual Property Organisation – Pakistan (IPO) with support from USAID. The theme of this year’s Intellectual Property Day was ‘Innovation – Improving Lives’.

During his talk, Mr Garverick said students in Lahore had invented an ‘irrigation stick’ to gauge the level of moisture in soil. “These things should be protected from piracy, because only that is how inventions will further improve.

“The same problems are faced by software experts, and companies remain concerned that their technology will not be protected. The same thing happens with entrepreneurs. Securing intellectual property can help industries and protect millions of jobs,” he said.

With regards to Pakistan, Mr Garverick said a number of achievements have taken place in terms of intellectual property over the last two years.

A senior adviser at the US Department of Commerce’s commercial law development programme, John K. Dickerson said intellectual property plays a role in improving peoples’ quality of life because it creates economic opportunities.

“If intellectual property rights are protected, companies will grow automatically and play a role in the development of the country,” he said.

Minister of State for Federal Education Balighur Rehman said innovation is about improving lives. He said: “However, in today’s competitive world, both developed and developing countries need to work together, as innovation enhances productivity.”

He said the government has allocated the highest ever research budget this year, adding: “However, it is a fact that the private sector has taken the lead in investing in research. The government is also encouraging universities to invest in research work.”

IPO-Pakistan Chairman Shahid Rashid said IPO’s vision was to put Pakistan on the intellectual property world map as a compliant and responsible country by promoting and protecting intellectual property rights.

“IPO’s mission is integrating and upgrading intellectual property infrastructure for improved service delivery, increased public awareness and enhanced enforcement coordination for achieving the goal of being an intellectual property-based nation,” he said.

At the sidelines of the seminar, leading universities from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab set up stalls in an exhibition to draw attention towards innovation and creativity.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2017