UNISAME AND SMEFA URGE TDAP TO EXPEDITE GI APPLICATIONS

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has urged Ahsan Mangi secretary Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to apply for geographical indications (GI) tag for our GI items expeditiously as the GI law and corresponding act is now promulgated.
Haji Muhammad Saeed chairman SME Farmers Association (SMEFA) has also urged the Small Medium Enterprises Development Authority to take the SME farmers in their fold and advocate their cause for uplift of the farm sector and modernization of farms. He also urged the TDAP to give importance to the matter of GI registration of farm produce and food items which are known for their GI popularity and exclusiveness and outstanding features and characteristics.
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said since the matter is now decided that TDAP would be the registrant for all the items of GI it is important that TDAP should apply to the Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) for all our GI items namely basmati rice, Kewra salt, Kasuri methi, Mirphurkas mangoes, Kunri dandicut chillies, Sargodha kinnos,Larkana gauva, Chakwal rewdi, Multani habshi halwa, Karachi sohan halwa, Karachi sew and ghathia and Shikarpuri pickles and other items such as Sindhi ajrak, Peshawari chapels, Multani malmal cloth and other items.
Thaver said it is pertinent to note that mostly the SMEs are engaged in the GI related items and once the GI tag is given to the indicated items their exports can be promoted to targeted countries by putting up a gallery on the internet to attract global customers and overseas Pakistanis.
The UNISAME council experts have suggested to TDAP to lend marketing support to the SME exporters for exports of GI items through a free business portal for the SMEs wherein the SMEs could exhibit their products exclusively known for their geographical qualities and characteristics.

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