Islamabad :(Parliament Times) Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R) is doing its level best to ensure food security and to raise overall rate of economic growth for the benefit of all sections of society. The recent developments at international level have highlighted the importance of preservation as well as protection of genetic resources and traditional knowledge. Pakistan is actively taking part in these negotiations at the forums of WTO, FOA, WIPO and UNESCO to safeguard our heritage and protect it against misappropriation. This was stated by Federal Secretary MNFS&R Muhammad Abid Javed while addressing on the occasion of a consultative seminar on Protection of Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge of Pakistan on Wednesday here at National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) Islamabad.
Secretary MNFS&R further said that at national level protecting genetic resources and encouraging fair use of traditional knowledge is joint responsibility of MNFS&R, IPO-Pakistan, Ministry of Climate Change and all other stakeholders. He said that his ministry is realizing its responsibility and extending full support to IPO-Pakistan for exploring possibilities of cooperation and development of a national database of genetic resources and traditional knowledge. He said documenting national assets in the form of GRTK database will be helpful to grant quality IP rights i.e. Patents and Plant Breeders’ Rights. Relevant provisions have already been included in these laws, he added.
While addressing on the occasion Chairman Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Dr. Yusuf Zafar T.I. said that PARC with the support of Japanese Government has established GeneBank at its Plant Genetic Resources Institute (PGRI) at NARC Campus in Islamabad at national level to preserve, protect and share the genetic resources with national and international institutions.
On this occasion Chairman IPO-Pakistan Shahid Rashid also highlighted the role of IPO-Pakistan for coordination with organizations having data of genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore. Acting Chief of USAID-PREIA Project Ms Hussan Bano Burki highlighted the aims of USAID Pakistan Regional Economic Integration Activity project.