ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister of Pakistan for Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood announced on Saturday that the Ministry of Commerce has approved a list of products for Geographical Indication (GI).
“MOC is glad to share that we have approved further list of ten products for Geographical Indication (GI). These include agro and non- agro items Chaunsa Mango, Sindhri Mango, Kinnow, Hunza Ruby, Swat Emerald, Kashmiri Tourmalin, Skardu Topaz, Skardu Aquamarine, Peridot Stone,” tweeted the adviser.
“The GI will serve as the potential economic tool to promote and enhance national and international trade by allowing premium price for Pakistan’s products. The GI will also help Make in Pakistan products to empower further our branding, which is missing in our exports,” he further stated.
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 the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Pakistan Minerals Development Corporation (PMDC) for registering these products.
GI is a name or sign used on products that correspond to a specific geographical location or origin (e.g., a town, region, or country). The use of a geographical indication, as an indication of the product’s source, acts as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities, is made according to traditional methods or enjoys a good reputation due to its geographical origin.
Earlier this year in January, Pakistan received the Geographical Indicator (GI) tag for its Basmati, paving the way for creating a local registry for this particular strain of rice and making a case in the world markets for its protection as a Pakistani product.
“I am glad to inform that Pakistan has registered Basmati Rice as Geographical Indication (GI) under Geographical Indications Act 2020. Under this Act, a GI registry has been formed which will register GIs and maintain the basic record of proprietors & authorised users of GI,” Abdul Razak Dawood had said in a thread on Twitter.
