Pakistan endorses 10 products for GI registration

[ghazi52]

Pakistan endorses 10 products for GI registration

Move will help enhance global trade by attracting demand for country's products

Zafar Bhutta
May 21, 2021


ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has approved 10 agro and non-agro products for Geographical Indication (GI) registration in a bid to claim them as its brands in the international market.

The move comes following India's attempt to label Basmati rice as its exclusive brand in the European Union market.

The process of GI registration for the 10 Pakistani products has begun after the cabinet gave its go-ahead last month.

The Commerce Division told the cabinet in a meeting held in April that GI was like intellectual property rights (IPRs), which was assigned to a product originating from a specific area whose quality or reputation was attributable to its place of origin.

Pakistan enacted the Geographical Indications (Registration and Protection) Act 2020 in March 2020 to ensure the registration and effective protection of the country’s products. The government of Pakistan has already initiated the GI registration of its products.

In this connection, Basmati rice was registered on January 21, 2021 whereas the process for giving GI protection to Pink Rock Salt commenced on February 22, 2021.

A significant number of other products of Pakistan can also be protected under the GI Act 2020. GI will serve as a potential economic tool to promote and enhance national and international trade by attracting global demand and premium prices for Pakistan's products.

The Ministry of Commerce has embarked on a drive to identify the public bodies to be authorised by the federal government for the GI registration of Pakistan's products under Section 11(2) of the GI Act 2020 so that the registration process could be initiated by the respective stakeholders/ agencies.

The role of registering bodies is important as the responsibility to prepare the Book of Specifications rests with them.

The book is an essential document that contains the name and description of a GI bearing product, its principal characteristics, methods to obtain the product, definition of geographical area (mapping), link between the product and geographical environment, and evidence that the product originated from the defined geographical area.

The agricultural and nonagricultural products which the Ministry of Commerce has proposed for GI registration in the first phase include ...

Chaunsa Mango,
Sindhri Mango,
Kinnow,
Hunza Ruby,
Swat Emerald,
Kashmir Tourmaline,
Skardu Topaz,
Skardu Aquamarine,
Peridot Stone
and Peridot Valley.

The ministry has picked Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Pakistan Minerals Development Corporation (PMDC) for registering these products.

Once the public bodies are authorised and notified as registrants, they will prepare the Book of Specifications and apply for the registration of GI-bearing products with the Intellectual Property Organisation Pakistan (IPO Pakistan).

The Ministry of Commerce tabled a proposal in last month's cabinet meeting where it sought approval for registering these products as brands of Pakistan.

Cabinet members appreciated the steps taken to protect the agro and non-agro products of Pakistan in the international market. However, they noted that bureaucratic hurdles were delaying efforts aimed at safeguarding national interests.

The cabinet members pointed out that there were several trade officers working in Pakistani missions in different countries including the EU. However, they never identified the threat posed by India to Pakistan's Basmati rice.

They asked the Commerce Division to take measures to protect Pakistani products in the international market. These products are a major source of exports from Pakistan to the global market.

Pakistan has already been too late in the GI registration of its products. By the end of 2020, the country had not registered any product as its exclusive brand.

The bureaucracy moved only after India claimed Basmati rice as its brand in the European market.

Pakistan endorses 10 products for GI registration | The Express Tribune

Pakistan approved 10 agro and non-agro products for Geographical Indication registration in a bid to claim them as its brands in the international market.

tribune.com.pk

 

[PakAlp]

Pakistan endorses 10 products for GI registration | The Express Tribune

Pakistan approved 10 agro and non-agro products for Geographical Indication registration in a bid to claim them as its brands in the international market.

tribune.com.pk

I recently had disagreements with PTI but I cannot deny that Pti is probably the best thing happened to Pakistan after many decades.

I just can't understand why the previous parties never ever bothered to register. I can't understand that and moving to 2021 we started to register this, a patriotic party which cares about its country and people will 100% register this because its our property. The article points out some problems like the corrupt bureaucratic and overseas missions causing issues. Definitely must be taking rishwat to keep quiet.

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan gets Geographical Indicator tag for its Basmati rice

Pakistan has received the Geographical Indicator (GI) tag for its Basmati, paving the way for creating a local registry for the particular strain of rice and making a case in the international market, as the country fights a case in the EU against India's move to get Basmati rice registered as its product.

A GI tag is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess origin-based qualities and reputation in the region.

This will provide protection of our products against misuse or imitation & hence will guarantee that their share in the international market is protected. I encourage you to send your suggestions of products that can be registered as GIs to the Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan," he said.

It is believed that a GI tag would strengthen Pakistan's case in the EU.

 

[PakAlp]

Getting GI also gives a positive outlook for Pakistan. I use pink salt in my house, never realised its only made in Pakistan. All my family is proud to use it as its Pakistan product.

Could somebody explain why this was never done before. Why only in 2021? Was it rocket science or something.

In the UK we have Chicken Tikka Massala. UK claims its their dish. Most English people are proud to order it. It was made in Glasgow by Pakistan Chef (Now Bangladesh). Everybody knows its Indian Subcontinent dish but claim it as their own but Pakistan government never bothered.

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan to register Himalayan pink salt as Geographical Indications


Web Desk On
Feb 22, 2021

ISLAMABAD: In order to curb the unauthorized use of Pakistan’s Geographical Indications (GI) by other countries, the government has decided to register Himalayan pink salt as the country’s product, ARY News reported.

According to the details, the decision was taken in a meeting with the Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) Pakistan chaired by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood in Islamabad on 18th of February.

Taking to social networking website, Abdul Razak Dawood said, “We decided that, after registration of rice, the Pink Salt from the Salt Range Mountains of Pakistan will be registered as GI.”

“This will encourage and motivate our producers to expand their business at the global level.”

He urged the business community to identify and inform IPO of other products that can be registered as GI in order to protect them for realizing their export potential.

Matters pertaining to the GI registration of products from various regions of Pakistan were also discussed in the meeting.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan received the GI tag for its Basmati rice on 26th of January-2021, which will strengthen its case against India in the European Union (EU).

 

[ghazi52]

It has been reported that the pink salt comes from remnants of ancient seabeds that were crystallised over 600 million years ago.

Pakistan is already fighting a case in the European Union against India’s move to get Basmati rice registered as its product. And the registration of pink salt may further accentuate the conflict between the two neighbouring countries as well as with the Union.

So far, products like

Hunza apricots,
Charsadda (Peshawari) chappal,
Multani halwa,
Hala’s Ajrak,
Sargodha’s kinnow,
Kasuri methi
and Pashmina shawls
They have been registered under the GI law by Pakistan.

 

[Deltadart]

The commerce divisions, and trade sections are components of a failed and corrupt political system. Our country because of incompetence and sheer lack of care or vision allowed outsiders and even enemies to package our pink salt to the world at outrageoudly high prices,while we kept selling them our pink salt like idiots.
Have we stopped the supply of pink salt to india in bulk for pennies yet? Our commercial enterprises need to Process and package the damn thing. It will bring in lot higher prices to pakistan rather than just selling big chunks of salt to enemy nation to make more money off our stupidity. Wake up and learn how to make money off the gift of nature that we have.

 

[Kingslayerr]

The commerce divisions, and trade sections are components of a failed and corrupt political system. Our country because of incompetence and sheer lack of care or vision allowed outsiders and even enemies to package our pink salt to the world at outrageoudly high prices,while we kept selling them our pink salt like idiots.
Have we stopped the supply of pink salt to india in bulk for pennies yet? Our commercial enterprises need to Process and package the damn thing. It will bring in lot higher prices to pakistan rather than just selling big chunks of salt to enemy nation to make more money off our stupidity. Wake up and learn how to make money off the gift of nature that we have.

Yes the export of raw pink salt has been banned.

 

[ghazi52]

Khewra salt set to be registered with international trade bodies

Kalbe Ali
April 29, 2021

Pakistan is close to taking the lead in the global salt trade, as local rock salt of Khwera is set to be registered with international trade bodies.


ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is close to taking the lead in the global salt trade, as local rock salt of Khwera is set to be registered with international trade bodies.

This will prevent Indian traders to market Pakistani rock salt as Himalayan Pink Salt. The federal cabinet recently approved that Pakistan Minerals Development Corporation (PMDC) will be the registrant agency for rock salt produced in the country. The PMDC has finalised requirements for registration of rock salt with the Geographical Indications (GI) registry, under the management and control of Intellectual Property Organisationof Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan). After registration with IPO-Pakistan, the country will file for registration at foreign markets.

The GI rules were formulated in January this year in the country that had been pending for around two decades, but traders from neighbouring India took advantage of the vacuum and applied for GI tagging of Basmati rice in the European Union, claiming that it was an agricultural produce of India.

PMDC Managing Director retired Brig M. Iqbal Malik said Pakistan has branded the Khewra salt as “Pink Rock Salt” and its specifications were being finalised.

“Currently, rock salt was neither a lucrative commodity for exports nor was Pakistan selling the rock salt as a commercial and industrial product,” he said, adding: “Soon after the GI tagging at international markets, Pakistan will be in a position to sign long term sale contracts with buyers abroad.”

Incidentally the term, Himalayan Pink Salt has been used by traders of India for global marketing of rock salt mined from Khewra, however, after trade of non-essential items with India was suspended around two years back, salt exports to India were also suspended.

Since, there is no sale policy regarding rock salt, most of the rock salt was exported in rock form to the Middle East for exports. A Karachi-based salt trader Ahmed Khan said there is a very high global demand for rock salt, not only as table salt but even as a healing agent by massage centres of Korea and Thailand to other industrial usages.

“Most of the salt business was in the hands of small traders and investment was needed for packing and other value addition, but without any policy small traders cannot get bank loans and so on,” Mr Khan said, adding salt bought by Indian traders in UAE was re-exported in small and attractive packs at a very high price to the European Union, United States and even the far East, with labels showing that this salt was a product of the Indian Himalayas.

At the same time, international marketing by Indian traders has had an impact too; rock salt of Khewra is sold at around Rs15 – 20 per kg in wholesale markets of Rawalpindi, the closest major market from Khewra. A 1 kilo pack, after grinding is sold at around Rs25 in local markets, while the branded Khewra salt in pink packaging is priced at Rs70 per kg whereas some companies are selling the same product in attractive salt containers valued at around Rs800- 1,000 per kg.


Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2021

 

[ghazi52]

 

[sur]

Pakistan gets Geographical Indicator tag for its Basmati rice

Pakistan has received the Geographical Indicator (GI) tag for its Basmati, paving the way for creating a local registry for the particular strain of rice and making a case in the international market, as the country fights a case in the EU against India's move to get Basmati rice registered as its product.

A GI tag is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess origin-based qualities and reputation in the region.

This will provide protection of our products against misuse or imitation & hence will guarantee that their share in the international market is protected. I encourage you to send your suggestions of products that can be registered as GIs to the Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan," he said.

It is believed that a GI tag would strengthen Pakistan's case in the EU.

The BEST tasting rice I've ever had:

"Marjan" brand.

Older posts on Pakistani products abroad:

well, I personally like a brand called "Marjan", long grain and they have taste. but am not their promoter or anything.

There's also an Indian copy with same name "Marjan". But I am talking about "Made in Pakistan" One.


View attachment 472428




Was it this one:?
this is Indian copy. Not original Marjan.

View attachment 472429

I have seen Indian stores abroad, selling mangos on separate shelf and for higher price, labelled as "Pakistani" mango. There must be some reason!

Also I have heard that because India has better image abroad, so Pakistani rice is exported to UAE and there re-packaged as "Made in India" and exported to abroad. This rice story is hearsay, but mango story is my personal observation.

Another observation you will make is that all Indian stores sell Pakistani's masalas like "Shan", "National", "Habib", etc. Similarly try the taste of Pakistani achaar compared to Indian achaar sold out there.

the last guy...
"...Pakistan is a holy place & people go there for pilgrimage ..." ... hahahahahaha




yet all Indian stores in West sell Pakistani products very proudly and for often higher prices.

Some examples (from an indian owned store):

View attachment 473773 View attachment 473774

LU & Peek Freans from Pakistan:

View attachment 473775 View attachment 473776 View attachment 473777 View attachment 473778


Let me tell you, I am not a "Khooh Daa Dudd" (= Well's frog) and Pakistani products/foods are better than indian products, overall. It's just that Indian products are more in number of course.

Same India Bazaar whose pics I posted above sells Pakistani mangoes for a higher price and tells their customers that those are Pakistani mangoes...

Probably you have developed a taste for bad food/products, so good quality appears bad to you.

 

[Deltadart]

Well sell it to the foreign traders, but only after processing it. Don't underestimate the value of this salt. Don't let Indians or others package it and make tons of money at our expence. Learn some marketing and packaging. Shouldn't be too difficult now a days.

 

[PakAlp]

Looks like the Pink Himalayas salt claimed by India is out of stock

How about Haleem, Nihari.
Is that Pakistani origin? their history can be traced to Middleeast according to wiki as the
Turks/Persians bought it to Pakistan. Indian RSS doesn't accept Muslims so they should stop eating our dishes and stay away from kashmiri Pink tea.

 

[SoulSpokesman]

What about Karachi halwa? It is very popular in India. Karachi biscuits (cashew filled biscuits)? Or Multani mitti?

It might come as a surprise to you Pakistanis that pink salt if marketed as Pakistani Sendha Namak (literally Indus salt) as commands a premium in India. Whereas it seems that the same pink salt is exported as an "Indian" product in the West.

Regards

 

[HttpError]

Thanks to India for taking Basmati to EU court, that helped to awaken sleeping Pakistani Government. Sometimes having a neighbor like them is a blessing.