Acts, Ordinances, President's Orders and Regulations: P I) The Gazette of Pakistan, Extra., March 31, 2020 113

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PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA.

, MARCH 31, 2020 113

ISLAMABAD, TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2020

PART I

Acts, Ordinances, President’s Orders and Regulations

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SECRETARIAT

Islamabad, the 30th March, 2020

No. F. 22(7)/2020-Legis.—The following Act of Majlis-e-Shoora


(Parliament) received the assent of the President on the 27th March, 2020 is
hereby published for general information:—

ACT NO. XVII OF 2020

An Act further to amend certain tax laws

WHEREAS it is expedient further to amend certain tax laws for the


purposes hereinafter appearing;

It is hereby enacted as follows:—

1. Short title and commencement.—(1) This Act shall be called the


Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 2020.

(2) It shall come into force at once.

(113)

Price: Rs. 80.00


[5388(2020) Ex.Gaz.]
114 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

2. Amendments in the Customs Act, 1969 (IV of 1969).—In the


Customs Act, 1969 (IV of 1969), the following further amendments shall be
made, namely:—

(1) after section 3CC, the following new section shall be inserted,
namely:—

“3CCA. Directorate General of Law and Prosecution.—The


Directorate General of Law and Prosecution shall consist of a
Director General and as many Directors, Additional
Directors, Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors, Special
Public Prosecutors and such other officers as the Board may,
by notification in the official Gazette, appoint.”;

(2) in section 6, in sub-section (1), after the word “Banks”, the


expression “in accordance with the legal framework notified by the
Board” shall be inserted;

(3) in section 7, after full stop at the end, the expression “The
provision of assistance so requested shall be binding.”, shall be
added;

(4) in section 139, the existing provision thereof shall be renumbered


as sub-section (1) thereof and after the proviso
to the re-numbered sub-section (1), the following new sub-section
shall be added, namely:—

“(2) In case of recovery or seizure subsequent to false declaration


or failure to declare under sub-section (1) of the items
notified under clause (s) of section 2, offence shall be treated
at par with clause (s) of section 2.”;

(5) in section 156, in sub-section (1), in the Table, in column zero,—

(a) in serial 8, after sub-serial (ii) and entries relating thereto in


columns (1), (2) and (3), the following new serials shall be
inserted, namely:—

“(iii) if the smuggled or such currency shall be General


prohibited goods liable to confiscation
comprise currency of and any person
all types. concerned in the offence
shall be liable to;
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 115

(a) if the amount of such currency shall be


the currency over liable to the confiscation
and above and any person
permissible limit concerned in the offence
is upto US dollars shall be liable to a
10,000/- or penalty not exceeding
equivalent in the value of the excess
value (currency of amount of the currency;
other
denomination) etc.
(b) if the amount of such currency shall be
the currency over liable to confiscation
and above the and any person
permissible limit concerned in the offence
is US dollars shall be liable to a
10,001-to 20,000/- penalty not exceeding
or equivalent in two times the value of
value (currency of the excess amount of the
other currency;
denomination) etc.
(c) if the amount of such currency shall be
the currency over liable to confiscation
and above the and any person
permissible limit concerned in the offence
is US dollars shall be liable to a
20,001/- to penalty not exceeding
50,000/- or three times the value of
equivalent in the currency; and upon
value (currency of conviction by a Special
other Judge he shall further be
denomination) etc. liable to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding
two years;
(d) if the amount of Such currency shall be
the currency over liable to confiscation
and above the and any person
permissible limit concerned in the offence
is US dollars shall be liable to a
50,001/-to penalty not exceeding
100,000/- or four times the value of
equivalent in the currency; and upon
value (currency of conviction by a Special
other Judge he shall further be
denomination) etc. liable to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding
seven years;
116 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

(e) if the amount of such currency shall be


the currency over liable to confiscation
and above the and any person
permissible limit concerned in the offence
is US dollars shall be liable to a
100,001/- to penalty not exceeding
200,000/- or five times the value of
equivalent in the currency; and upon
value (currency of conviction by a Special
other Judge he shall further be
denomination) etc. liable to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding
ten years:

Provided further that the


sentence of the
imprisonment shall not
be less than three years.
(f) if the amount of such currency shall be
the currency over liable to confiscation
and above the and any person
permissible limit concerned in the offence
exceeds US dollars shall be liable to a
200,000/- or penalty not exceeding
equivalent in value ten times the value of
(currency of other the currency; and upon
denomination) etc. conviction by a Special
Judge he shall further be
liable to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding
fourteen years:

Provided further that the


sentence of the
imprisonment shall not
be less than five years.
(iv) If the smuggled/ such goods shall be General
prohibited goods liable to confiscation
comprise of gold, and any person
silver, platinum or concerned in the offence
precious stones in shall be liable to;
any form;
(a) if the quantity of such goods shall be
such goods is up to liable to confiscation
15 tola gold or and any person
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 117

equivalent in value concerned in the offence


(silver or platinum) shall be liable to a
etc. penalty not exceeding
the value of the goods;
(b) if the quantity of such currency shall be
such goods is from liable to confiscation
16-30 tola gold or and any person
equivalent in value concerned in the offence
(silver or platinum) shall be liable to a
etc. penalty not exceeding
two times the value of
the currency;
(c) if the quantity of such goods shall be
such goods is from liable to confiscation
31-50 tola gold or and any person
equivalent in value concerned in the offence
(silver or platinum) shall be liable to a
etc. penalty not exceeding
three times the value of
the goods; and upon
conviction by a Special
Judge he shall further be
liable to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding
one year;
(d) if the quantity of such goods shall be
such goods is from liable to confiscation
51-100 tola gold or and any person
equivalent in value concerned in the offence
(silver or platinum) shall be liable to a
etc. penalty not exceeding
three times the value of
the goods; and upon
conviction by a Special
Judge he shall further be
liable to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding
three years;

(e) if the quantity of such goods shall be


such goods is from liable to confiscation
101-200 tola gold and any person
or equivalent in concerned in the offence
value (silver or shall be liable to a
platinum) etc. penalty not exceeding
118 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

four times the value of


the goods; and upon
conviction by a Special
Judge he shall further be
liable to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding
five years;

(f) if the quantity of such currency shall be


such goods is from liable to confiscation
201-500 tola gold and any person
or equivalent in concerned in the offence
value (silver or shall be liable to a
platinum) etc. penalty not exceeding
five times the value of
the currency; and upon
conviction by a Special
Judge he shall further be
liable to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding
ten years:

Provided further that the


sentence of the
imprisonment shall not
be less than three years.

(g) if the quantity of such goods shall be


such goods liable to confiscation
exceeds 500 tola and any person
gold or equivalent concerned in the offence
in valuel (silver or shall be liable to a
platinum) etc. penalty not exceeding
ten times the value of
the goods; and upon
conviction by a Special
Judge he shall further be
liable to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding
fourteen years:
Provided further that the
sentence of the
imprisonment shall not
be less than five years.”;
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 119

(b) against serial 47A, in entry related thereto in column (2), in


the proviso, for full stop at the end, a colon shall be
substituted and thereafter the following second proviso shall
be added, namely:—
“Provided further that the aforesaid penalty shall not
apply in cases where goods are imported or received as gift
by individuals without NTN or STRN through courier or
air cargo, diplomatic cargo and imports made by the
Federal Government or Provincial Government or Local
Government.”; and
(c) for serial 70 and entries relating thereto in columns (1), (2)
and (3), the following shall be substituted, namely:—

“70 if the owner of any


baggage fails to declare or
makes a false declaration
with respect to his baggage
or refuses to answer any
questions put to him by the
appropriate officer with
respect to his baggage or
any of its contents
including articles carried
with him or fails to produce
baggage or any such article
for examination, and if
such goods are:
(i) Other than currency, Such owner shall be 139(1)
gold, silver & platinum liable to a penalty not
and precious stones in exceeding three times
any form the value of the
goods; and such
goods shall also be
liable to confiscation.
(ii) currency of all types. 139(2)
(a) if the amount of such currency shall
the currency over be liable to
and above the confiscation and any
permissible limit is person concerned in
upto US dollars the offence shall be
10,000/- or liable to a penalty not
equivalent in value exceeding the value
(currency of other of the excess amount
denomination) etc. of the currency;
120 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

(b) if the amount of the such currency shall


currency over and be liable to
above the confiscation and any
permissible limit is person concerned in
US dollars 10,001- the offence shall be
to 20,000/- or liable to a penalty not
equivalent in value exceeding two times
(currency of other the value of the
denomination) etc. excess amount of the
currency;
(c) if the amount of such currency shall
the currency over be liable to
and above the confiscation and any
permissible limit is person concerned in
US dollars the offence shall be
20,001/- to liable to a penalty not
50,000/- or exceeding three times
equivalent in value the value of the
(currency of other currency; and upon
denomination) etc. conviction by a
Special Judge he
shall further be liable
to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding
two years;
(d) if the amount of such currency shall
the currency over be liable to
and above the confiscation and any
permissible limit is person concerned in
US dollars the offence shall be
50,001/- to liable to a penalty not
100,000/- or exceeding four times
equivalent in value the value of the
(currency of other currency; and upon
denomination) etc conviction by a
Special Judge he
shall further be liable
to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding
seven years;
(e) if the amount of Such currency shall
the currency over be liable to
and above the confiscation and any
permissible limit is person concerned in
US dollars the offence shall be
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 121

100,001/- to liable to a penalty not


200,000/- or exceeding five times
equivalent in value the value of the
(currency of other currency; and upon
denomination) etc. conviction by a
Special Judge he
shall) further be
liable to
imprisonment for a
term not exceeding
ten years:

Provided further that


the sentence of the
imprisonment shall
not be less than three
years.
(f) if the amount of such currency shall
the currency over be liable to
and above the confiscation and any
permissible limit person concerned in
exceeds US dollars the offence shall be
200,000/- or liable to a penalty not
equivalent in value exceeding ten times
(currency of other the value of the
denomination) etc. currency; and upon
conviction by a
Special Judge he
shall further be liable
to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding
fourteen years:

Provide further that


the sentence of the
imprisonment shall
not be less than five
years.
(iii) gold, silver, platinum 139(2)
and precious stones in
any form;
(a) if the quantity of such goods shall be
such goods is up to liable to confiscation
15 tola gold or and any person
122 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

equivalent in value concerned in the


(silver or platinum) offence shall be liable
etc. to a penalty not
exceeding the value
of the goods;

(b) if the quantity of such currency shall


such goods is from be liable to
16-30 tola gold or confiscation and any
equivalent in value person concerned in
(silver or platinum) the offence shall be
etc. liable to a penalty not
exceeding two times
the value of the
currency;
(c) if the quantity of such goods shall be
such goods is from liable to confiscation
31-50 tola gold or and any person
equivalent in value concerned in the
(silver or platinum) offence shall be liable
etc. to a penalty not
exceeding three times
the value of the
goods; and upon
conviction by a
Special Judge he
shall further be liable
to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding
one year;
(d) the quantity of such goods shall be
such goods is from liable to confiscation
51-100 tola gold or and any person
equivalent in value concerned in the
(silver or platinum) offence shall be liable
etc. to a penalty not
exceeding three times
the value of the
goods; and upon
conviction by a
Special Judge he
shall further be liable
to imprisonment for
a term not exceeding
three years;
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 123

(e) if the quantity of such goods shall be


such goods is from liable to confiscation
101-200 tola gold and any person
or equivalent in concerned in the
value (silver or offence shall be liable
platinum) etc. to a penalty not
exceeding four times
the value of the
goods; and upon
conviction by a
Special Judge he
shall further be liable
to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding
five years;
(f) if the quantity of such currency shall
such goods is from be liable to
201-500 tola gold confiscation and any
or equivalent in person concerned in
value (silver or the offence shall be
platinum) etc. liable to a penalty not
exceeding five times
the value of the
currency; and upon
conviction by a
Special Judge he
shall further be liable
to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding
ten years:

Provided further that


the sentence of the
Imprisonment shall
not be less than three
years.
(g) if the quantity of such goods shall be
such goods liable to confiscation
exceeds 500 tola and any person
gold or equivalent concerned in the
in value (silver or offence shall be liable
platinum) etc. to a penalty not
exceeding ten times
the value of the
goods; and upon
124 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

conviction by a
Special Judge he
shall further be liable
to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding
fourteen years:

Provided further that


the sentence of the
imprisonment shall
not be less than five
years.

(6) in section 164, after sub-section (2), the following new sub-section
shall be added, namely:—

“(3) For the execution of the above, the officers or officials shall
be empowered to use all necessary force including use of
firearms subject to section 97 of the Pakistan Penal Code,
1860 (Act XLV of 1860) in the line of duty.”;

(7) in section 169, in sub-section (4), for full stop at the end, a colon
shall be substituted and thereafter the following provisos shall be
added, namely:—

“Provided that where the seized goods liable to confiscation are


produced during any inquiry or trial before the court of Special
Judge Customs and if such goods are subject to speedy or natural
decay, the court may on an application after recording evidence, as
it thinks necessary, order the goods to be sold or otherwise dispose
of in terms of this section:

Provided further that if the property is a dangerous drug,


intoxicant, intoxicating liquor or any other narcotic or psychotropic
substance seized or taken into custody, the Court may, either on an
application or of its own motion and under its supervision and
control, obtain and prepare such number of samples of the property
as it may deem fit for safe custody and production before it or any
other court and cause destruction of the remaining portion of the
property under a certificate issued by it in that behalf:

Provided also that such samples shall be deemed to be whole


of the property in an inquiry or proceedings in relation to such
offence before any authority or court.”;
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 125

(8) in section 185A, in sub-section (2), for full stop at the end, a colon
shall be substituted and thereafter the following proviso shall be
added, namely:—

“Provided that such cases shall be disposed of within six


months of the receipt of report or within such extended period as
the Special Judge may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, fix.”;

(9) for section 194, the following shall be substituted, namely:—

“194. Appellate Tribunal.—(1) There shall be established an


Appellate Tribunal to be called the Customs Appellate
Tribunal to exercise the powers and perform the functions
conferred on the Customs Appellate Tribunal by this Act.

(2) The Customs Appellate Tribunal shall consist of a chairman


and such other judicial and technical members who shall be
appointed in such numbers and in such manner as the
Prime Minister may prescribe by rules, which may be made
and shall take effect notwithstanding anything contained in
section 219 or any other law or rules for the time being in force.

(3) No person shall be appointed as judicial member of a


Customs Appellate Tribunal, unless he—

(a) has been a Judge of a High Court;

(b) is or has been a District Judge; or

(c) is an advocate of a High Court with a standing of not


less than ten years; or

(d) possesses such other qualification as may be prescribed


under sub-section (2) of this section.

(4) No person shall be appointed as a technical member of a


Customs Appellate Tribunal, unless he—

(a) is an officer of the Pakistan Customs Service equivalent


in rank to that of member of the Board or Chief
Collector of Customs or Director General; or

(b) is a Collector or Director or Chief of the Board having


not less than three years experience in that position.

(5) The constitution, functioning of benches and procedure of the


Customs Appellate Tribunal shall be regulated by rules which
the Prime Minister may prescribe.
126 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

(6) The rules in respect of the matters covered under this section
made prior to commencement of the Tax Laws (Second
Amendment) Act, 2020 shall continue in force unless
amended or repealed.”;

(10) in section 196, in sub-section (5), for full stop at the end, a colon
shall be substituted and thereafter the following proviso shall be
added, namely:—

“Provided that the reference filed under sub-section (1) shall be


decided within six months of filing the application or within such
extended period as the High Court may, for reasons to be recorded
in writing, fix.”.

3. Amendments in the Sales Tax Act, 1990.—In the Sales Tax Act,
1990, the following further amendments shall be made, namely:—

(1) in section 2,—

(a) after clause (12), the following new clause shall be inserted,
namely:—

“(12A) “greenfield industry”, in relation to the entry at serial


number 150 of the Table-1 of the Sixth Schedule,
means—

(a) a new industrial undertaking which is—

(i) setup on land which has not previously been


utilized for any commercial, industrial or
manufacturing activity and is free from
constraints imposed by any prior work;

(ii) built without demolishing, revamping,


renovating, upgrading, remodeling or
modifying any existing structure, facility or
plant;

(iii) not formed by the splitting up or


reconstitution of an undertaking already in
existence or by transfer of machinery, plant
or building from an undertaking established
in Pakistan prior to commencement of the
new business and is not part of an expansion
project;
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 127

(iv) using any process or technology that has not


earlier been used in Pakistan and is so
approved by the Engineering Development
Board; and

(b) is approved by the Commissioner on an


application made in the prescribed form and
manner, accompanied by the prescribed documents
and, such other documents as may be required by
the Commissioner:

Provided that this definition shall be applicable


from the 1St July, 2019 and onwards.”.

(b) in clause (43A),—

(i) for the expression “Tier-1 retailers means,—”, the expression


““Tier-1 retailer” means a retailer falling in any one or more
of the following categories, namely:—” shall be substituted;

(ii) in sub-clause (c), for the word “six”, the word “twelve” shall
be substituted;

(iii) in sub-clause (d), the word “and” at the end shall be omitted;
and

(iv) in sub-clause (e), for full stop at the end, the expression
“; and” shall be substituted and thereafter the following new
sub-clause shall be added, namely:—

“(f) any other person or class of persons as prescribed by the


Board.”.

(2) in section 33, in the Table, in column (1), after serial 23 and entries
relating thereto in columns (2) and (3), the following new serial
numbers and entries relating thereto shall be added, namely:—

“24. Any person, who is Such person shall pay sub-section


integrated for a penalty of five (9A) of
monitoring, tracking, hundred thousand section 3 and
reporting or recording rupees or two section 40C
of sales, production hundred per cent of
and similar business the amount of tax
transactions with the involved, whichever
Board or its is higher. He shall,
computerized system, further be liable,
conducts such upon conviction by a
128 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

transactions in a Special Judge, to


manner so as to avoid simple imprisonment
monitoring, tracking, for a term which may
reporting or recording extend to two years,
of such transactions, or with additional
or issues an invoice fine which may
which does not carry extend to two million
the prescribed invoice rupees, or with both.
number or barcode or Any person who
bears duplicate abets commissioning
invoice number or of such offence, shall
counterfeit barcode, be liable, upon
or any person who conviction by a
abets commissioning Special Judge, to
of such offence. simple imprisonment
for a term which may
extend to one year, or
with additional fine
which may extend to
two hundred
thousand rupees, or
with both.
25. Any person, who is Such person shall be sub-section
required to integrate liable to pay a penalty (9A) of
his business for up to one million section 3 and
monitoring, tracking, rupees, and if section 40C
reporting or recording continues to commit
of sales, production the same offence
and similar business after a period of six
transactions with the months after
Board or its imposition of penalty
computerized system, as aforesaid, his
fails to get himself business premises
registered under the shall be sealed and an
Act, and if registered, embargo shall be
fails to integrate in placed on his sales.
the manner as
required under law.
26. Any person, being a Such person shall pay sub-section
manufacturer or a penalty of ten (27) of
importer of an item thousand rupees or section 2 and
which is subject to tax five per cent of the clause (a) of
on the basis of retail amount of tax sub-section
price, who fails to involved, whichever (2) of
print the retail price in is higher: section 3
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 129

the manner as Further, such goods


stipulated under the shall also be liable to
Act. confiscation.
However, the
adjudication
authority, after such
confiscation, may
allow redemption of
such goods on
payment of fine
which shall not be
less than twenty
percent of the total
retail price of such
goods.

27. Any person, being Such person shall section


owner of the goods, pay a penalty of ten 40D”;
which are brought to thousand rupees or
Pakistan in violation five per cent of the
of section 40D. amount of tax
involved, whichever
is higher:

Further, such goods


shall also be liable to
confiscation.
However, the
adjudication
authority, after such
confiscation, may
allow redemption of
such goods on
payment of fine
which shall not be
less than twenty
percent of value, or
retail price in case of
items falling in the
Third Schedule, of
such goods.

(3) after section 40C, the following new section shall be inserted,
namely:—
130 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

“40D. Provisions relating to goods supplied from taxes exempt


areas.—(1) The conveyances carrying goods supplied from
the tax-exempt areas, shall be accompanied by such
documents in respect of the goods carried as may be
prescribed under rules.

(2) The Regional Tax Office having jurisdiction may establish


check-posts on the routes originating from tax-exempt areas
for the purpose of examining the goods carried and the
documents related thereto. An officer not below the rank of
Inspector, Inland Revenue, as authorized by the
Commissioner, Inland Revenue, and assigned to such check-
posts, may stop vehicles on such routes as coming from tax-
exempt areas and examine documents for ascertaining their
validity and conformity to the goods carried.

(3) In the absence of the prescribed documents or any


discrepancy in such documents, the goods so carried shall be
seized along with the vehicle carrying the goods by the
officer as aforesaid under proper acknowledgment.

(4) The notices to the owner of the goods and the vehicle to show
cause against imposition of penalty shall be issued within
fifteen days of the seizure as aforesaid.

(5) For the purposes of this section, the expression “tax-exempt


areas” means Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan,
Tribal Areas as defined in Article 246 of the Constitution of
the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and such other areas as may
be prescribed.”;

(4) in section 73, after sub-section (3) and explanation thereunder, the
following new sub-section shall be added, namely:-

“(4) A registered manufacturer or producer shall not be entitled to


deduct input tax (credit adjustment or deduction of input tax)
which is attributable to such taxable supplies exceeding, in
aggregate, one hundred million rupees in financial year or ten
million rupees in a tax period as are made to a certain person
who is not a registered person under this Act:

Provided that the aforesaid shall not apply to supplies


made to.—
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 131

(a) Federal/provincial/local Government departments,


authorities, etc. not engaged in making of taxable
supplies;

(b) Foreign Missions, diplomats and privileged


persons; and

(c) all other persons not engaged in supply of taxable


goods.”.

(5) in section 76, for the words “Federal Government”, the expression
“Board with approval of the Federal Minister-incharge” shall be
substituted;

(6) in the Sixth Schedule, in Table-1, in column (1),—

(i) against serial number 24, in column (2), in the Explanation,


for the word “to”, the expression “on local supplies made by
importers,” shall be substituted;

(ii) against serial number 82, in column (2), after the word
“offal”, the expression “, excluding those sold in retail
packing under a brand name or a trademark” shall be added;
and

(iii) against serial number 83, in column (2), after the word “fish”,
the expression “, excluding those sold in retail packing under
a brand name or a trademark” shall be added;

(7) in the Eighth Schedule, in Table-1, in column (1),—

(a) against serial number 5, in column (4), for the expression


“5%”, the expression “10%” shall be substituted;

(b) against serial number 68, in column (5), the expression “If
sold in retail packing under a brand name or trademark” shall
be inserted; and

(c) against serial number 69, in column (5), the expression “If
sold in retail packing under a brand name or trade mark” shall
be inserted;

(8) in the Ninth Schedule, in Table, in column (1), against serial


number 2,—
132 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

(a) against sub-serial A, in columns (3) and (4), for the


expression “Rs. 135”, the expression “Rs. 130” shall be
substituted respectively;

(b) against sub-serial B, in columns (3) and (4), for the


expression “Rs. 1320”, the expression “Rs. 200” shall be
substituted respectively;

(9) in the Tenth Schedule,—

(a) for the PCT heading “6901.1000”, the PCT heading


“6901.0000” shall be substituted; and

(b) the expression “on monthly return,” shall be omitted;

(10) in the Twelfth Schedule, under the heading “Procedure and


conditions”,—

(a) in clause (2),—

(i) in sub-clause (viii), the word “and” at the end shall be


omitted; and

(ii) in clause (ix), for full stop at the end, the expression
“;and” shall be substituted and thereafter the following
new clause shall be added, namely:—

“(x) plant, machinery and equipment falling in


Chapters 84 and 85 of the First Schedule to the
Customs Act, 1969 (IV of 1969), as are imported
by a manufacturer for in-house installation or
use.”; and

(b) for clause (4), the following shall be substituted, namely:—

“(4) The refund of excess input tax over output tax, which is
attributable to tax paid under this Schedule, shall not be
refunded to a registered person in any case, except that
as used for making of zero-rated supplies.”.

4. Amendments in the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 (Ordinance


XLIX of 2001).—In the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 (XLIX of 2001),—

(1) in section 2, after clause (27), the following new clause shall be
inserted, namely:—
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 133

“(27A) “greenfield industrial undertaking” means—

(a) a new industrial undertaking which is—

(i) setup on land which has not previously been


utilized for any commercial, industrial or
manufacturing activity and is free from constraints
imposed by any prior work;

(ii) built without demolishing, revamping, renovating,


upgrading, remodeling or modifying any existing
structure, facility or plant;

(iii) not formed by the splitting up or reconstitution of


an undertaking already in existence or by transfer
of machinery, plant or building from an
undertaking established in Pakistan prior to
commencement of the new business and is not part
of an expansion project;

(iv) using any process or technology that has not


earlier been used in Pakistan and is so approved by
the Engineering Development Board; and

(b) is approved by the Commissioner on an application made in


the prescribed form and manner, accompanied by the
prescribed documents and, such other documents as may be
required by the Commissioner:

Provided that this definition shall be applicable from the


1st July, 2019 and onwards.”;

(2) for section 130, the following shall be substituted, namely,—

“130. Appellate Tribunal.—(1) There shall be established an


Appellate Tribunal to be called the Appellate Tribunal Inland
Revenue to exercise the powers and perform the functions
conferred on the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue by this
Ordinance.

(2) The Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue shall consist of a


chairman and such other judicial and accountant members
who shall be appointed in such numbers and in such manner
as the Prime Minister may prescribe by rules, which may be
made and shall take effect notwithstanding anything
134 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

contained in section 237 or any other law or rules for the time
being in force.

(3) No person shall be appointed as judicial member of an


Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue, unless he—

(a) has been a Judge of a High Court;

(b) is or has been a District Judge; or

(c) is an advocate of a High Court with a standing of not


less than ten years; or

(d) possesses such other qualification as may be


prescribed under sub-section (2) of this section.

(4) No person shall be appointed as an accountant member of an


Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue, unless he—

(a) is an officer of the Inland Revenue Service equivalent in


rank to that of Regional Commissioner;

(b) is a Commissioner Inland Revenue or Commissioner


Inland Revenue (Appeals) having not less than three
years experience as Commissioner or Collector;

(c) has for a period of not less than ten years practiced
professionally as a chartered accountant within the
meaning of the Chartered Accountants Ordinance, 1961
(X of 1961); or

(d) has for a period of not less than ten years practiced
professionally as a cost and management accountant
within the meaning of the Cost and Management
Accountants Act, 1966 (XIV of 1966).

(5) The constitution, functioning of benches and procedure of the


Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue shall be regulated by
rules which the Prime Minister may prescribe.

(6) The rules in respect of the matters covered under this section
made prior to commencement of the Tax Laws (Second
Amendment) Act, 2020 shall continue in force unless
amended or repealed.”;
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 135

(3) in section 152, after sub-section (1C), the following two new sub-
sections shall be inserted, namely:—

“(1D) Every banking company or a financial institution maintaining


special convertible rupee account (SCRA) of a non-resident
company having no permanent establishment in Pakistan
shall deduct tax from capital gain arising on the disposal of
debt instruments and Government securities including
treasury bills and Pakistan investment bonds invested through
SCRA at the rate specified in Division II of Part III of the
First Schedule.

(1E) The tax deductible under sub-section (1D) shall be a final tax
on the income of the non-resident company arising out of
such capital gain.”;

(4) in section 181D,—

(i) the existing provision of that section shall be renumbered as


sub-section (1) thereof;

(ii) after sub-section (1), re-numbered as aforesaid, the following


new sub-sections shall be added, namely:—

“(2) Where a person fails to obtain business licence under


sub-section (1), the Commissioner may, in addition to
and not in derogation of any punishment to which the
person may be liable under this Ordinance or any other
law, impose a fine of—

(a) twenty thousand Rupees, in case of a taxpayer


deriving income chargeable to tax under this
Ordinance; or
(b) five thousand Rupees, in all other cases.

(3) The Commissioner may, by an order in writing, cancel a


business licence issued under sub-section (1) after
providing an opportunity of being heard to the person,
if—

(a) such person fails to notify any change in


particulars within thirty days of such change; or

(1)) such person is convicted of any offence under any


federal tax law.”;
136 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

(5) in section 214E,—

(a) the existing provisions of that section shall be re-numbered as


sub-section (1) thereof;

(b) after sub-section (1), re-numbered as aforesaid, the following


new sub -sections shall be added, namely:—

“(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1),


the Board may prescribe procedure for conclusion of
audit of income tax affairs of a person automatically
selected for audit under omitted section 214D.

(3) The prescribed procedure under sub-section (2) may


include acceptance of declared income of a taxpayer for
a tax year subject to conditions specified therein.”;

(6) in section 216, in sub-section (3), in clause (r), for full stop at the
end, a semi colon and the word “or” shall be substituted and after
clause (r), amended as aforesaid, the following new clause shall be
added, namely:—

“(s) to the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) for the purposes of


performing functions as laid down in the Anti-Money
Laundering Act, 2010 (VII of 2010) .”;

(7) in section 222A, for the words “Federal Government”, the


expression “Board with approval of the Federal Minister-incharge”
shall be substituted;

(8) in section 230E, after sub-section (4), the following new


sub-sections shall be inserted;

“(5) Transfer pricing audit of cases selected under clause (d) of


sub-section (3) shall be conducted as per procedure given in
section 177 and all the provisions of the Ordinance, except
the first proviso to sub-section (1), sub-sections (6A), (10)
and (14) of section 177, shall apply accordingly.

(6) Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the


Commissioner from determination of transfer price at arm‟s
length in transactions between associates while conducting
audit of income tax affairs of a taxpayer under section 177 or
214C or during proceedings under section 122.”;

(9) in the First Schedule,—


PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 137

(a) in Part-I, in Division III, in paragraph (a), for the word


“Purchasers”, the word “Producers” shall be substituted; and

(b) in Part-II, in clause (B), in the proviso, in the Table, in


column (1), against serial number 2, in column (3), for the
figure “730”, the figure “100” shall be substituted;

(c) in Part-III,—

(i) in Division I, in paragraph (a), for the word


“Purchasers”, the word “Producers” shall be
substituted.”; and

(ii) in Division II, after clause (3), the following new clause
shall be inserted, namely:—

“(3A) The rate of tax to be deducted under sub-section


(1D) of section 152 shall be 10% of the amount of
capital gain.”;

(10) in the Second Schedule,—

(A) in Part-I, in clause (103C), after the expression “59B”, the


expression “, computed according to the following formula-

AxB / C

Where

A is the amount of dividend;


B is the shareholding of the company receiving the dividend
in the company distributing the dividend; and
C is the total ordinary share capital of the company
distributing the dividend” shall be omitted;

(B) in Part-II, after clause (28C), the following new clauses shall
be inserted, namely:—

“(28D) The rate of minimum tax under section 113 for tax year
2020 shall be 0.5% in the case of a trader having
turnover upto one hundred million Rupees:

Provided that the tax liability of traders for tax year


2019 and 2020 in case of traders who filed return of
income for tax year 2018 shall not be less than the tax
paid for the tax year 2018.
138 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

Explanation.—For the purpose of this clause,


„trader‟ shall mean an individual engaged in business of
buying and selling of goods in the same state including
a retailer and a wholesaler but shall not include a
distributor.

(28E) The rate of minimum tax under section 113 for tax year
2020 shall be 0.5% in case of a trader of yarn being an
individual.”;

(C) in Part-III, in clause (9A), for full stop at the end, a colon
shall be substituted and thereafter the following new proviso
shall be inserted, namely:—

“Provided that for capital gains arising after completion


of three years from the date of acquisition of immovable
property the amount of tax payable shall be reduced by
seventy-five percent.”;

(D) in Part-IV, —

(a) in clause (45A),—

(i) in sub-clause (a), for the proviso, the following


shall be substituted, namely:-

“Provided that the rate of deduction of


withholding tax under clauses (a) and (b) of sub-
section (1) of section 153 shall be 0.5% on local
sales, supplies and services made by traders of
yarn to the above mentioned categories of
taxpayers.”;

(ii) in sub-clause (b), for the expression “; and” at the


end, a full stop shall be substituted; and

(iii) sub-clause (c) shall be omitted.

(b) in clause (66), the words “who fall under the zero rated
regime of sales tax and” shall be omitted;

(c) in clause (72B),—

(i) after the word “paid”, the words “in the manner as
may be prescribed” shall be inserted;
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 139

(ii) after the first proviso, the following new provisos


shall be inserted, namely:—

“Provided further that the Commissioner shall


be deemed to have issued the exemption certificate
in cases where the certificate is automatically
processed and issued by IRIS upon expiry of
prescribed time period:

Provided also that the Commissioner may


modify or cancel the certificate issued
automatically by IRIS on the basis of reasons to be
recorded in writing after providing an opportunity
of being heard.”;

(d) after clause (111), the following new clauses shall be


added, namely:—

“(112) The provision of section 236P shall not apply to


special convertible rupee account (SCRA) of a
non-resident company having no permanent
establishment in Pakistan.

(113) The provision of sub-section (5B) of sections 147


shall not apply in respect of capital gains arising to
a non-resident company having no permanent
establishment in Pakistan from investment in debt
instruments and Government securities including
treasury bills and Pakistan investment bonds
through special convertible rupee account (SCRA)
maintained with a banking company or financial
institution in Pakistan.

(114) The provisions of section 115(4) and 181 shall not


apply to a non-resident company having no
permanent establishment in Pakistan solely by
reason of capital gain or profit on debt earned from
investments in debt securities and Government
securities including treasury bills and Pakistan
investment bonds through special convertible
rupee account maintained with a banking company
or financial institution in Pakistan.

(115) The provisions of section 153 shall not apply to


traders being individuals having turnover upto one
hundred million Rupees as a prescribed person.
140 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

Explanation.—Trader in this clause shall have


the meaning as provided in clause (28D) of Part-II
of the Second Schedule.”; and

(11) in the Tenth Schedule, in rule 10, after clause (b), the following
shall be inserted, namely:—

“(ba) Tax deducted under clause (5A) of Part-II of the Second


Schedule read with sub-section (2) of section 152.”.

5. Amendments in the Federal Excise Act, 2005.—In the Federal


Excise Act, 2005, in section 49, for the words “Federal Government”, the
expression “Board with approval of the Federal Minister-in-charge” shall be
substituted.

No. F. 22(15)/2020-Legis.—The following Act of Majlis-e-Shoora


(Parliament) received the assent of the President on the 27th March, 2020 is
hereby published for general information:—

ACT NO. XVIII OF 2020

An Act to provide for registration and effective protection of geographical


indications

WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for registration and protection of


geographical indications of goods;

AND WHEREAS it is necessary to recognize and protect the geographical


indications of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for public interest and advancing
the economic reform and development of the least developed areas of Pakistan;

AND WHEREAS it is expedient to provide the legal means for interested


parties to prevent the use of any means in the designation or presentation of
goods that indicates or suggests that the goods in question originate in a
geographical area and to prevent any use which constitutes an act of unfair
competition within the meaning of Article 22 of the Agreement on Trade Related
Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS);

It is hereby enacted as follows:-

CHAPTER-I

PRELIMINARY

1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) The Act may be


called the Geographical Indications (Registration and Protection) Act, 2020.
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 141

(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan.

(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Federal Government
may by notification in the Official Gazette appoint.

2. Definitions.—(1) In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in


the subject or context;—

(i) “Applicant” means a natural or legal person, government


organization or statutory body, association, or group of producers,
or producer organization, or operator having an interest in the
registration;

(ii) “authorized user” means authorized user of a geographical


indication registered under this Act;

(iii) “book of specifications” means a document elaborated by the


applicant, specifying the geographical area of goods, production
standards or product specifications, and qualification process for
Geographical Indication goods;

(iv) “certification body” means an organization issuing a certificate of


conformity with the book of specifications ;

(v) “deceptively similar” means a geographical indication which so


nearly resembles to another geographical indication so as to be
likely to deceive or cause confusion;

(vi) “Director General” means Director General, Intellectual Property


Organization of Pakistan appointed under section 12 of the
Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan Act, 2012 (XXII of
2012);

(vii) “geographical indication” or “GI” in relation to goods includes


an indication which identifies such goods as agricultural goods,
natural goods or manufactured goods originating or manufactured
or produced in a territory or a region or locality as determined by
the country, where a given quality, reputation or other
characteristics of the goods or the ingredients or components, is
essentially attributable to its geographical origin and in the case of
manufactured goods one of the activities of either the production or
processing or preparation of the goods concerned takes place in
such territory, region or locality as the case may be. For the
purpose of this clause any name which is not the name of a
territory or a region a locality or a country shall also be considered
as a geographical indication if such name refers to or indicates the
142 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

origin of goods within or from a specific geographical area within


that country and is used upon or in relation to particular goods
originating from or with in that country or a territory or a region or
locality within that country;

(viii) “geographical origin” means an area of a country, region, locality


and shall also include the sea, lake, river, island, mountain or any
other area of a similar nature;

(ix) “foreign geographical indication” means a geographical


indication that identifies a product as originating in a country other
than Islamic Republic of Pakistan;

(x) “generic name or indication” means a name which, may


correspond to the name of a territory, region or locality, does not
have in Pakistan any meaning as an indication or reference of
geographical origin and has become a commonly used name for the
goods in question;

(xi) “goods” include any agricultural, horticulture, natural, raw or


manufactured goods or goods of any industry or handicraft or any
food or drink product, whether in a processed or semi-processed or
semi-finished form;

(xii) “indication” includes any words, letters or numerals, geographical


name or other name, device or any figurative representation, label
or any combination thereof indicating or referring or suggesting or
conveying the geographical origin of the goods to which it is
applied;

(xiii) “IPO-Pakistan” means the Intellectual Property Organization of


Pakistan, established under the Intellectual Property Organization
of Pakistan Act, 2012 (XXII of 2012);

(xiv) “limitation” with its grammatical variations means any limitation


of the right to use of geographical indication given by registration
to a registrant or an authorized user thereof including limitations of
that right as to mode of use, as to use in relation to goods to be sold
or otherwise traded within Pakistan or as to use in relation to goods
to be exported outside Pakistan;

(xv) “name” includes any abbreviation of a name;

(xvi) “operator” means a natural or legal person involved in the


collection, transformation, processing, trading, or distribution of
geographical indication goods;
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 143

(xvii) “organization” means any entity, body, department, authority or


organization so designated by the Division concerned;

(xviii) “Pakistan geographical indication” means a geographical


indication that identifies a product as originating in the Islamic
Republic of Pakistan;

(xix) “Paris Convention” means the Paris Convention of 20t11 March,


1883 for the protection of industrial property, as revised or
amended from time to time;

(xx) “package” includes any case, box, container, covering, folder,


receptacle, vessel, casket, bottle, wrapper, label, band, ticket, reel,
frame, capsule, cap, lid, stopper and cork;

(xxi) “Policy Board” means the Policy Board constituted under section
4 of Intellectual Property Organization Act, 2012 (XXII of 2012);

(xxii) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(xxiii) “producer”, in relation to goods, means any person who—

(a) if such goods are natural goods, exploits the goods;

(b) if such goods are agricultural goods, produces the goods and
includes the person who is an operator or processes or
packages such goods; and

(c) if such goods are handicrafts or industrial goods, makes or


manufactures the goods, and includes an operator or any
person who trades or deals in such production, exploitation,
making or manufacturing, as the case may be, of the goods;

(xxix) “qualifying country” means any country or territory which is—

(a) a member of the World Trade Organization;

(b) a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization;

(c) a party to the Paris Convention ; or

(d) any other country which the competent authority may


designate as a qualifying country on the basis of reciprocity;

(xxv) “register” means the register of geographical indications provided


under section 6;
144 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

(xxvi) “registered” with its grammatical variations means registered


under this Act;

(xxvii) “registered geographical indication” means a geographical


indication which is actually on the register;

(xxviii) “registrant” means any statutory body, public body, local or


provincial administration, government enterprise or any
government organization which is a juristic person having area of
responsibility covering the geographical indication of the goods as
referred to in this Act having obtained registration and entered in
the register as proprietor of a geographical indication ;

(xxix) “Registrar” means the Registrar of Geographical Indications


referred to in section 4;

(xxx) “Registry” means the geographical indications registry mentioned


in section 3;

(xxxi) “Intellectual Property Tribunal” or “IP Tribunal” means the


Intellectual Property Tribunal established under the Intellectual
Property Organization of Pakistan Act, 2012 (XXII of 2012); and

(xxxii) “use of a geographical indication” shall include but not be


limited to, use in production, manufacturing, packing, stocking,
importing, exporting, distributing, selling, dealing and advertising
or exploiting in any other manner and any reference to such use
shall be construed to include a reference to the use of a printed or
other visual representation of the geographical indication.

(2) Words and expressions used and not defined in this Act shall have
the same meaning as are assigned to them in the Trade Marks Ordinance,
2001(XIX of 2001).

CHAPTER-II

GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION REGISTRY

3. Geographical Indications Registry.—(1) For the purposes of this


Act, the concerned Division shall establish a Geographical Indications Registry
under the management and control of IPO Pakistan. The Trade Marks Registry
and its branches established under the Trade Marks Ordinance, 2001(XIX of
2001) shall carry out functions of the Geographical Indications Registry and its
branches till such time a separate GI Registry is established under this Act.
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 145

(2) The GI Registry shall maintain a register of record to be called the


register of geographical indications. GI Register shall be maintained at Trade
Marks Registry for the time being and shall be handed over and transferred to
the GI Registry once it has been established under this Act.

(3) For the facilitation of applicants, the IPO Pakistan with the prior
approval of Policy Board may set up offices of the Registry at such places, as
deems necessary, as and when required.

(4) The Geographical Indications Registry shall have its own seal.

4. Registrar geographical indications and other functionaries.—


The IPO Pakistan may, by notification in the official Gazette, appoint an officer
who shall serve as the Registrar:

Provided that the Registrar of Trade Marks, appointed under sub-section


(1) of section 7 of the Trade Marks Ordinance, 2001 (XIX of 2001) shall
perform the functions of Registrar Geographical Indications till the appointment
of an officer as Registrar under this section, to carry out his functions under this
Act:

Provided further that the appointment of Registrar under this section


shall be made within three hundred and sixty days after the commencement of
this Act.

5. Delegation of Authority of the Registrar.—(1) The IPO Pakistan


shall with the prior approval of the Policy Board appoint one or more deputy
registrars and assistant registrars for the purposes of this Act.

(2) Under direction of IPO Pakistan, the Registrar may delegate its
powers to the deputy registrars and assistant registrars who shall discharge such
functions of the Registrar under this Act as the Registrar may delegate from time
to time.

(3) Any reference in this Act to the Registrar shall include a reference
to any deputy registrar or assistant registrar in the discharge of such functions.

(4) IPO Pakistan may authorize the Registrar to delegate any function
of the Registrar to any other officers of the GI Registry other than the deputy and
assistant registrars.

6. Register of geographical indication.—(1) There shall be kept at


each branch, a copy of the register of geographical indication which shall
contain all registered geographical indications with names, addresses and
descriptions of the registrants, the names and addresses and descriptions of
authorized users and such registers may be maintained wholly or partly in
electronic form. The register shall be open for inspection of the public at all
convenient times in the same manner as the originals thereof.
146 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

(2) The register shall contain list of registrants and authorized users of
geographical indications.

(3) The register shall be divided into two Parts called respectively Part.
A and Part B.

(4) The particulars relating to the registration of the registrant of


geographical indications shall be incorporated and included in Part A of the
register in the prescribed manner.

(5) The particulars relating to the registration of the authorized users


shall be incorporated and included in Part B of the register in the prescribed
manner.

(6) Any person may obtain extracts from the register in the prescribed
manner.

CHAPTER-III

REGISTRATION OF GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION

7. Registration of registrant of geographical indication.—(1)


Registration of proprietor of geographical indication of any or all goods subject
to definite territory of a country shall comprise of such class of goods as may be
classified by the Registrar in accordance with the international classification of
goods for the purposes of registration of geographical indications.

8. Prohibition of registration of a geographical indication.—(1)


An indication shall not be registered as a geographical indication,—

(i) which does not correspond to the definition of geographical


indication contained in clause (vii) of sub-section (1) of section 2;
or

(ii) the use of which is likely to deceive or cause confusion; or

(iii) which is not or has ceased to be protected in its country of origin;


or

(iv) which has fallen into disuse in that country; or

(v) which is determined by the Registrar to be a generic name or an


indication; or

(vi) which is opposed to morality or public policy.


PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 147

9. Registration of homonymous geographical indication.—(1) A


homonymous geographical indication is entitled to be considered for registration
under this Act.

(2) Prior to registration under sub-section (1) the Registrar shall satisfy
himself that he has considered—

(i) all practical conditions under which the homonymous indication in


question shall be differentiated from other homonymous
indication;

(ii) equitable treatment of the producers of the goods concerned; and

(iii) that the consumers of such goods shall not be confused or misled in
consequence of such registration.

Explanation.—Homonymous geographical indications (GI) are


those that are spelled or pronounced alike, but which identify
products originating in different places, usually in different
countries. In principle, these indications should coexist, but such
coexistence may be subject to certain conditions. For example, it
may be required that they be used only together with additional
information as to the origin of the product in order to prevent
consumers from being misled. A GI may be refused protection if,
due to the existence of another homonymous indication, its use
would be considered potentially misleading to consumers with
regard to the product‟s true origin.

10. Registration of foreign geographical indication.—(1) A


geographical indication of a foreign country shall be registered in the Islamic
Republic of Pakistan as long as it is registered in accordance with the local
legislation in its country of origin. The title and date of the legislative or
administrative provisions or of judicial decisions regarding protection to the
geographical indication in the country of origin shall be considered for accepting
foreign GI application.

(2) The Registry shall not allow the registration of a foreign


Geographical Indication which is not or has ceased to be protected in its country
of origin or which has fallen into disuse in that country.

(3) The application for registration of foreign geographical indication


shall be made at the Registry by its legal representative in Pakistan.

(4) During the registration procedure, the Registry may require the
applicant or its legal representative to submit any information related to
registration in the country of origin which may affect its registration in Pakistan.
148 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

CHAPTER-IV

PROCEDURE FOR REGISTRATION OF REGISTRANT OF GI

11. Right to own and register geographical indication.—(1) The


Federal Government shall be the holder and exclusive owner of all the
geographical indications of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

(2) The Federal Government may allow any statutory body, public
body, local or provincial administration, government enterprise or any
government organization which is a juristic person having area of responsibility
covering the geographical indications in the territory of Islamic Republic of
Pakistan to apply for and register the product as a geographical indication as a
registrant in such form, manner and accompanied by such fees as may be
prescribed.

(3) When a product bearing geographical indication is registered at the


Registry in accordance with the provisions of this Act, such producers or
operators whose practices are in compliance with the book of specification shall
have the right to use the geographical indication as authorized users. The
producers or operators, with the formal assent of the Registrant, shall apply to
the Registry for obtaining registration as authorized users.

(4) The concerned Division shall be responsible for conciliating any


conflicts and engage in advocacy in relation to drafting of book of specification
during pre-registration phase of geographical indications.

(5) The concerned Division shall regulate cooperation agreement with


organizations to enable pre-registration processes of geographical indication and
facilitate in arranging consultations with producers and operators in drafting
book of specification.

12. Content of Application for registration of geographical


indication.—(1) The application for registration of a geographical indication by
the Applicant shall contain the following documents for registration, namely:—

(i) name and address of applicant filing the application;

(ii) geographical indication for which registration is sought;

(iii) class of goods to which the geographical indication shall apply;

(iv) geographical area to which the geographical indication applies and


a map of that area;
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 149

(v) title and date of the legislative or administrative provisions or of


judicial decisions regarding the protection to the geographical
indication in the qualifying country of origin;

(vi) statement of such particulars in relation to the producers or


operators of the concerned goods, if any;

(vii) goods for which the geographical indication applies;

(viii) quality, reputation or other characteristics of the goods,


geographical origin and other details as may be prescribed for
which the geographical indication is used;

(ix) book of specifications containing product standards or product


specifications; and

(x) such other particulars as may be prescribed and shall be subject to


the payment of prescribed fee.

(2) In addition to other factors, the reputation of products may also be


determined on the basis of their being widely known to and selected by
consumers.

(3) The quality and characteristics of products of geographical


indication shall be defined by one or several qualitative, quantitative or
physically, chemically, microbiologically perceptible criteria which can be tested
by technical means or experts with appropriate testing methods as may be
prescribed.

13. Conformity of geographical indication with book of specification.—


(1) The concerned Division, by notification in the official Gazette shall designate
a certification body to guarantee, inspect, test and monitor quality, reputation or
other characteristics of products seeking registration of geographical indications
in a prescribed manner.

(2) The designated certification body shall confirm the specifications


identified in the book of specifications from accredited confirmatory assessment
bodies or research institutes or impartial public authority or public organization
or organization approved by concerned Division for this purpose.

(3) In case there is non-compliance with the book of specifications by


the producers or operators as authorized users of registered geographical
indication, following measures may be adopted by the certification body,
namely:—
150 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

(i) notice served to the authorized user for non-compliance;

(ii) warning made to the producer or operator or authorized user;

(iii) in case no remedial action is taken within reasonable time,


temporary disqualification of the rights to use the geographical
indication by the producer or operator or authorized user by
making an application to the Registrar; and

(iv) application to the Registrar for suspension or cancellation of the


rights to use the geographical indication by the non-compliant
authorized user.

(4) The Registrar may approve the suspension after investigation and
scrutiny as deemed fit.

(5) The cost of such confirmation of compliance with the book of


specifications shall be borne by the authorized users. The registrant may
contribute to these costs as the case may be.

14. Technical assistance of experts.—The Registrar may, if so


require, be assisted in technical aspects in various fields such as geology or
meteorology involved in any case by any expert who has experience and
expertise in the matter in order to consider or make a decision or ascertain the
correctness of the particulars furnished in the application.

15. Examination for registration.—(1) The Registrar shall cause the


application to be examined to determine whether it fulfills the criteria and other
requirements.

(2) In examining the application, the Registrar may call the applicant
or any person concerned to give explanation or furnish additional evidence to
him. Where it is necessary to have opinion of an expert in the field related to
matter under consideration, the Registrar shall send the matter to the expert for
his consideration and opinion in the prescribed manner.

16. Grant of registration of registrant.—(1) When an application for


registration of a geographical indication has been accepted, the Registrar shall
register the registrant of the product bearing geographical indication mentioned
in the application and the geographical indication shall stand registered from the
date of making of said application and it shall be deemed to be the date of
registration.

(2) On the registration of a geographical indication, the Registrar shall


issue to the registrant, a certificate in such form as may be prescribed, sealed
with the seal of the Registry.
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 151

(3) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Registrar may accept an
application absolutely or subject to such amendments, modifications, conditions
or limitations, if any, as he may deem fit.

(4) In case of conditional acceptance of application, the Registrar shall


record in writing the grounds for such conditional acceptance and the reasons to
be recorded in writing for arriving at such decision.

(5) The Registrar may amend the register or a certificate of registration


for the purpose of correcting a clerical error or an obvious mistake.

17. Application for registration of authorized user.—(1) Any


natural or juristic person or group of persons claiming to be an operator,
producer or group of producers interested in the right to use registered
geographical indication, may apply in writing to the Registrar subject to the
formal assent of the registrant in the prescribed manner for registering him as an
authorized user of such geographical indication.

(2) The application under sub-section (1) shall be accompanied by a


statement confirming compliance with the book of specifications and such
documents of facts as may be prescribed and required by the Registrar to
determine as to whether such person is the producer or operator of the goods
referred to in the application and such fee as may be prescribed.

(3) The Registrar shall cause the application to be examined to


determine whether it fulfills the criteria and other requirements.

(4) In examining the application, the Registrar may call the applicant
or any person concerned to give explanation or furnish additional evidence to
him.

(5) Where registration of a geographical indication as authorized user,


is not completed within twelve months from the date of the application by reason
of default on the part of the applicant, the Registrar may, after giving notice to
the applicant in the prescribed manner, treat the application as abandoned unless
it is completed within the time specified.

18. Withdrawal of acceptance.—(1) Where, after the acceptance of


an application for registration of an authorized user of geographical indication
but before its registration, the Registrar is satisfied,—

(i) that the application has been accepted in error; or

(ii) that in circumstances of the case the application for use of


geographical indication should not be registered; or
152 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

(iii) that it should be registered subject to conditions or limitations; or

(iv) that it should be registered subject to conditions, additional to or


other than the conditions or limitations subject to which the
application has been accepted, he may, after hearing the applicant,
if he so desires, withdraw the acceptance and proceed as if the
application had not been accepted.

19. Advertisement.—(1) When an application for registration of an


authorized user of the product bearing geographical indication has been
accepted, whether absolutely or subject to conditions or limitations, the Registrar
shall advertise that application immediately in such manner as may be
prescribed.

(2) Where after the advertisement of an application,—

(i) an error in the application has been corrected; or

(ii) the application has been permitted to be amended,

the Registrar in his discretion may either cause the application to be advertised
afresh, a new or may notify such correction which has been made in the
application in the prescribed manner.

20. Opposition to registration.—(1) Within a period of three months


from the date of advertisement or re-advertisement of the application for
registration of authorized user of a product bearing geographical indication, any
interested person may give to the Registrar notice of opposition in writing in
prescribed manner for opposition to the registration.

(2) This notice of opposition under sub-section (1) shall be made in


such manner and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.

(3) The Registrar shall serve a copy of the notice of opposition to the
Applicant for registration as authorized user and within two months from the
receipt by the applicant of the notice of opposition, the applicant shall send to
the Registrar in the prescribed manner a counter-statement of the grounds on
which he relies for his application and if he does not do so, he shall be deemed to
have abandoned the application.

(4) Within two months from the receipt of copy of notice of


opposition, the applicant may send a counter-statement of the grounds on which
he relies upon to the Registrar in the prescribed manner.

(5) If he fails to do so in the prescribed time limit he shall be deemed


to have abandoned the application.
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 153

(6) If the applicant sends such counter-statement, the Registrar shall


cause a copy thereof to be served on the person giving notice of opposition.

(7) Any evidence upon which the opponent and the applicant may rely
shall be submitted in such manner and within such time as may be prescribed to
the Registrar, and the Registrar shall give an opportunity to them to be heard, if
they so desire.

(8) After hearing the parties, considering the evidence and taking into
account ground of objection whether relied upon by the opponent or not, the
Registrar shall decide whether the registration is to be permitted absolutely or
subject to conditions or limitations, if any, or not to be permitted.

(9) If any party does not appear for hearing, the Registrar may ex parte
decide on the notice of opposition on merits, upon consideration of the evidence
available on record.

(10) Where a person giving notice of opposition or an applicant sending


a counter statement neither resides nor carries on business in Pakistan, the
Registrar may require him to give security for the costs of proceeding before
him.

(11) The Registrar may, on request, permit correction of any error or


any amendment in a notice of opposition or a counter-statement in the prescribed
manner.

21. Extension of time.—(1) If the Registrar is satisfied, on application


made to him in the prescribed manner and accompanied by the prescribed fee,
that there is sufficient cause for extending the time for doing any act not being a
time expressly provided in this Act, whether the time so specified has expired or
not, he may subject to such conditions as he may think fit to impose, extend the
time and inform the parties accordingly.

(2) Nothing in sub-section (1), shall be deemed to require the Registrar


to hear the parties before disposing of an application for extension of time and
no appeal shall lie from any order of the Registrar under this section.

22. Correction and Amendment.—(1) The Registrar may, at any


time, whether before or after acceptance of an application for registration, permit
the correction of any error or permit an amendment of the application.

23. Grant of registration of an authorized user.—(1) Where the


Registrar finds that conditions provided for in this Act are fulfilled and either—

(i) the registration of an authorized user has not been opposed within
the prescribed time limit; or
154 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

(ii) the authorized user has provided statement affirming compliance


with the book of specifications; or

(iii) the registration of the authorized user has been opposed by notice
and the opposition has been decided in the Applicant‟s favour; or

(iv) no appeal has been filed against the Registrar‟s decision for
registration as an authorized user,

the Registrar shall, unless the concerned Division otherwise directs, register the
said authorized users mentioned in the application.

(2) The authorized users, when registered under sub-section (1), shall
be registered from the date of filing of said application.

(3) The Registrar shall issue a certificate of the registration to the


authorized users bearing the seal of the Registry and shall publish a reference to
the said registration in the prescribed manner.

(4) The Registrar may amend the register for addition, correction or
omission of entries relating to authorized users.

(5) Where an application is made by any aggrieved person or any legal


person or an organization or designated certification body or registrant that an
authorized user is dealing with a registered geographical indication in a manner
which is detrimental to the public interest at large and in non-compliance of
book of specifications and the Registrar is satisfied according to all legal
considerations contained in this Act, he may pass an order for rectification of the
register or cancel the registration as he may deem legally fit.

(6) Such orders of the Registrar shall be binding on all the parties
including the aggrieved party or authorized user, provided that appeal against the
Registrar‟s decision shall lie to the High Court.

24. Regulatory mechanism for registered geographical indication.—


(1) The procedure for inspection and monitoring shall be prepared by concerned
Division for regulatory mechanism including scope, frequency, and procedures
of monitoring activities and penalties to ensure the compliance of geographical
indication products with the book of specification.

(2) The use of registered geographical indication by the authorized


users shall be subject to compliance with the book of specification.

(3) IPO Pakistan shall facilitate in promotion, marketing and effective


use of products bearing geographical indications.
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 155

(4) The designated certification body conforming product specification


and product standards of geographical indication goods shall present an annual
report to the concerned Division at the end of each calendar year containing a list
of authorized users including but not limited to goods, quantity and quality
acknowledged and actions taken against non-compliance of the book of
specification.

(5) Concerned Division shall oversee the efficiency of the designated


certification body or bodies.

25. Duration, renewal, removal and restoration of registration.—


(1) The registration of a Registrant of geographical indication shall be perpetual.

(2) The registration of an authorized user shall be for a period of ten


years.

(3) The Registrar shall, on application made in the prescribed manner,


by the authorized user, within the prescribed period and subject to the payment
of the prescribed fee, renew the registration of the authorized user, for a period
of ten years from the date of expiration of the original registration or of the last
renewal of registration, as the case may be (which date is in this section referred
to as the expiration of the last registration).

(4) At the prescribed time, before the expiration of the last registration
of the authorized user, the Registrar shall send notice in prescribed manner to the
authorized user regarding the date of expiration and the conditions as to payment
of fees and otherwise upon which a renewal of registration may be obtained,
and, if at the expiration of time prescribed in the notice, the said conditions are
not been duly complied, the Registrar may remove the authorized user from the
register:

Provided that the Registrar shall not remove the authorized user from the
register, if an application is made in the prescribed form and the prescribed fee
and surcharge is paid within six months from the expiration of the last
registration of the authorized user, as the case may be, and shall renew the
registration of the authorized user for a period of ten years.

(5) Where an authorized user has been removed from the register for
non-payment of the prescribed fee, the Registrar shall, after six months and
within one year from the expiration of the last registration of the authorized user,
on receipt of an application in the prescribed form and on payment of the
prescribed fee, if satisfied that it is just so to do, restore the authorized user, as
the case may be, to the register and renew registration of authorized user, either
generally or subject to such condition or limitation as he thinks fit to impose, for
a period of ten years from the expiration of the last registration.
156 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

CHAPTER- V

RIGHTS CONFERRED BY REGISTRATION OF GEOGRAPHICAL


INDICATION

26. Rights conferred by registration.—(1) The registration of a


geographical indication shall give,—

(i) to the registrant of the geographical indication and the authorized


user to get relief in respect of infringement of the registered
geographical indication;

(ii) to the authorized user, the exclusive right to use the geographical
indication in relation to the goods in respect of which the
geographical indication is registered;

(iii) right to take action against an infringer or counterfeiter; and

(iv) right to prevent the use of a registered geographical indication by


any person in any manner in relation to the concerned products to
which the geographical indication relates.

27. Use of geographical indication.—(1) When Geographical Indication


has been registered for any particular product, the producers or operators of such
product who is entered in the Register as authorized users, is entitled to use the
registered geographical indication for goods, subject to compliance with product
specification.

(2) The use of registered geographical indication includes applying it


on products, packages, advertising material and any other document related to
registered geographical products.

28. National logo for certifying geographical indication


products.—(1) The Registry shall establish a National Geographical Indication
logo to certify all geographical indication products registered in Pakistan.

(2) National Geographical Indication logo along with registered name


of product and any other mark and detail shall appear on the label of marketed
products in a prescribed manner.

29. Registration to be prima facie evidence of validity.—(1) In all


legal proceedings relating to a geographical indication, the certificate of
registration granted under this Act, being a copy of the entry in the register under
the seal of the Geographical Indications Registry, shall be prima facie evidence
of the validity thereof and be admissible in all courts without further proof or
production of the original.
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 157

(2) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to affect right of action in


respect of an unregistered geographical indication.

CHAPTER- VI

INFRINGEMENT OF REGISTERED GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION

30. Infringement of geographical indication.—(1) A person shall


infringe a registered geographical indication if such person uses a geographical
indication which is identical with the registered geographical indication.

(2) A person shall infringe a registered geographical indication, if such


person uses it in the course of trade on following grounds, namely:—

(i) the use of a geographical indication in respect of goods of the same


or similar description but not originating in the country indicated
by the geographical indication in question or the true place of
origin of the goods is falsely indicated or the geographical
indication is used in translation or accompanied by expressions
such as “kind”, “type”, “style”, “imitation” used in such a manner
which misleads the persons as to the geographical origin of such
goods; or

(ii) any use of a geographical indication that, even if it identifies goods


truly originating in the place designated by that geographical
indication, designates products that do not comply with the
relevant book of specification as recorded on the register shall be
deemed as an infringement; or

(iii) the mark is deceptively similar to the geographical indication and


there exists a likelihood of confusion on the part of public, which
includes the likelihood of association with the geographical
indication.

31. When a geographical indication is not infringed.—(1) A person


shall not infringe a registered geographical indication when the—

(i) person uses it in good faith; or

(ii) person‟s name or the name of the person‟s place of business is used
but such use does not result in a likelihood of confusion or
otherwise interfere with an existing geographical indication; or

(iii) name of the predecessor in business of the person or the name of


the predecessor‟s place of business is used;
158 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

(iv) person uses the geographical indication in good faith to indicate the
intended purpose of goods, in particular as accessories or spare
parts, or services; or

(v) person uses the geographical indication for the purposes of


comparative advertising.

CHAPTER- VII

INFRINGEMENT PROCEEDINGS

32. Action for infringement.—(1) Save as otherwise provided in this


Act, an infringement of a registered geographical indication shall be actionable
by the holder or registrant and the authorized user of the geographical indication.

(2) In an action for infringement all such relief by way of damages,


injunctions, accounts or otherwise shall be available to the holder or registrant
and the authorized user of the geographical indication as is available in respect
of the infringement of any other property right.

(3) Nothing in this Act shall be deemed to affect rights of action


against any person for passing off goods as the goods of another person or the
remedies in respect thereof.

33. Infringement of unregistered geographical indications.—(1) No


proceedings to prevent, or recover damages for, infringement of an unregistered
geographical indication shall be instituted by any person.

(2) Nothing in this Act shall be deemed to affect rights of action


against any person for passing off goods as goods of another person or any
remedies available therein.

34. Infringement proceedings.—(1) No person shall be entitled to


institute any proceeding to recover damages for an unregistered geographical
indication.

(2) Any interested person and any interested group of producers or


consumers may institute proceedings in the IP Tribunal to prevent infringement
in respect of a registered geographical indication.

(3) Following use of registered geographical indication shall constitute


infringement,—

(i) use in the designation or presentation of a good that indicates or


suggests that the goods in question originates in a geographical
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 159

area other than the true place of origin in a manner which misleads
the public as to the geographical origin of the goods; or

(ii) use which constitutes an act of unfair competition within the


meaning of Article 10 bis of the Paris Convention; or

(iii) use of a geographical indication in respect of goods of the same or


similar description but not originating in the place indicated by the
geographical indication in question, even where the true origin of
the goods is indicated or the geographical indication is used in
translation or accompanied by expressions such as “kind”, “type”,
“style”, “imitation” or the like; or

(iv) use of a geographical indication that, even if it identifies goods


truly originating in the place designated by that geographical
indication, designates goods that do not comply with the relevant
specification as recorded on the register.

(4) The relief which a court may grant in any suit for infringement
under this section may include —

(i) an injunction and confiscation of the products; and

(ii) damages or share in the profits at the option of the plaintiff.

35. Suits for infringement to be instituted before IP Tribunals.—


(1) No suit in matters relating to infringement of a geographical indication or
otherwise relating to any right in a geographical indication shall be instituted in
any other court except an IP Tribunal.

36. Order for erasure of offending mark.—(1) Where a person is


found to have infringed a registered geographical indication, the High Court or
an IP Tribunal may make an order requiring him—

(i) to cause the offending geographical indication to be erased,


removed or obliterated from any infringing goods, material or
articles in his possession, custody or control; or

(ii) to secure the destruction of the infringing goods, material or


articles, if it is not reasonably practicable for the offending
geographical indication to be erased, removed or obliterated.

(2) If an order under sub-section (1) is not complied with or it appears


to the High Court or IP Tribunal, as the case may be, that such an order may not
be complied with, the High Court or IP Tribunal may order that infringement
goods, material or articles be delivered to such person and may further direct for
160 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

erasure, removal or obliteration of the mark or for destruction, as the case


may be.

37. Infringing goods, material or articles.—(1) Subject to sub-


section (2), goods shall be infringement goods in relation to a geographical
indication, if those or packaging there of bear a mark identical or deceptively
similar to that mark and—

(i) application of the mark to the goods or packaging thereof was an


infringement of the registered geographical indication;

(ii) the goods are proposed to be imported into Pakistan and


application of the mark in Pakistan to those or packing thereof is an
infringement of the registered geographical indication; or

(iii) the mark otherwise been used in relation to the goods in such a
way as to infringe the registered geographical indication.

(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall be construed as affecting the


importation of goods which may be lawfully imported into Pakistan.

(3) Material shall be infringing material in relation to a registered


geographical indication, if it bears a mark identical or deceptively similar to that
mark and either it is,—

(i) used for labeling or packaging goods as a business paper or for


advertising goods, in such a way as to infringe the registered
geographical indication; or

(ii) intended to be so used and such use would infringe the registered
geographical indication.

(4) Infringing articles in relation to a registered geographical


indication means such articles which—

(i) are specifically designed or adapted for making copies of a mark


identical or similar to that mark; and

(ii) a person has in his possession, custody or control, knowing or


having reason to believe that those have been or are to be used to
produce infringing goods or material.

38. Order as to disposal of infringing goods, material or articles.—


(1) Where infringing goods, material or articles have been confiscated, an
application may be made to the High Court or IP Tribunal,—
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 161

(i) for an order that those be destroyed or forfeited; or

(ii) for a decision that no such order may be made.

(2) In considering what order, if any, should be made, the IP Tribunal


shall consider whether other remedies available in an action for infringement of
the registered geographical indication may be adequate to compensate the
aggrieved party and protect their interests.

(3) Where there are more persons than one interested in the goods,
materials or articles, the IP Tribunal shall make such order as it thinks just.

(4) If the IP Tribunal decides that no order should be made under this
section, then the person, in possession of the goods shall be entitled to retain
them.

CHAPTER-VIII

PENALTIES AND PROCEDURES

39. Meaning of applying Geographical Indications.—(1) A person


shall be deemed to apply a geographical indication for goods who—

(i) applies to the goods themselves or uses it in relation to goods;

(ii) applies to any package in or with which the goods are sold or
exposed for sale or had in possession for sale or for any purpose of
trade or manufacture; or

(iii) places, encloses or annexes any goods which are goods which are
sold or exposed for sale or had in possession for sale or for any
purpose of trade or manufacture in or with any package or other
thing to which a trade description has been applied; or

(iv) uses a geographical indication in any manner reasonably likely to


lead to the belief that the goods in connection with which it is used
are designed or described by that geographical indication ; or

(v) in relation to the goods uses a geographical indication in any sign,


advertisement, invoice, catalogue, business letter, price list or other
commercial documents and goods are delivered or services are
rendered to a person in pursuance of a request or order made by
reference to the geographical indication as so used.
162 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

(2) A geographical indication shall be deemed to be applied to goods


whether it is woven in, impressed on, otherwise worked into or annexed or
affixed to the goods or to any packaging or other thing.

40. False application of geographical indication.—(1) A person


shall falsely apply geographical indication if such person uses in the course of
trade a geographical indication which—

(i) is used without the consent of the registrant or authorized user of


geographical indication makes the geographical indication or
deceptively similar geographical indication; or

(ii) falsifies any genuine geographical indication, whether by


alteration, addition, effacement or otherwise; or

(iii) where the geographical indication is a well-known geographical


indication or has a reputation in Pakistan and the use of the
Geographical Indication being without due cause, takes unfair
advantage of or is detrimental to the distinctive character or the
repute of the geographical indication; or

(iv) uses such registered geographical indication as his trade name or


part of his trade name; or

(v) uses such registered geographical indication as his domain name or


part of his domain name or obtains such domain name without
consent of the proprietor of the registered geographical indication,
with the intention of selling such domain name to another
including the proprietor of the registered geographical indication;
or

(vi) uses any package bearing a geographical indication which is


identical with or deceptively similar to the geographical indication
of such registrant or authorized user, for the purpose of packing,
filling or wrapping therein any goods other than the genuine goods
of the authorized user of the geographical indication.

(2) Any geographical indication falsely applied as mentioned in sub-


section (1), is in this Act referred to as a false geographical indication.

(3) In all legal proceedings, a person who sells or offers goods for sale
or puts those on the market or has in possession for sale or any purpose of trade
or manufacture any goods bearing a mark which infringes a registered
geographical indication, the burden of proving the consent of the registrant or
authorized user shall lie on the accused and be treated as a party to infringement
of a registered geographical indication, unless he proves that,—
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 163

(i) having taken all reasonable precautions, he had reasons to suspect


the genuineness of the geographical indication;

(ii) on demand made by IP Tribunal or High Court, as the case may be,
he gave all the information in his power with respect to the persons
from whom he obtained such goods; and

(iii) he had otherwise acted innocently.

41. Penalty for applying false geographical indication, etc.—(1)


Any person who,—

(i) falsely applies geographical indication to goods; or

(ii) applies to any goods to which an indication of the country or place


in which they were made or produced or the name and address of
manufacture or person for whom the goods are manufactured is
required

(iii) tampers with, alters or effaces an indication of origin which has


been applied to any goods; or

(iv) causes any of the aforementioned things to be done, shall, unless


he proves that he acted without intent to defraud,

shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall
not be less than six months but which may extend to three years, or with fine
which shall not be less than ten hundred thousand rupees, or with both.

42. Penalty of falsely representing a geographical indication as


registered.—(1) No person shall make any representation—

(i) with respect to a mark not being a registered geographical


indication to the effect that it is a registered geographical
indication;

(ii) with respect to a part of a registered geographical indication not


being a part separately registered as a geographical indication, to
the effect that it is separately registered as a geographical
indication;

(iii) to the effect that a registered geographical indication is registered


in respect of any goods in respect of which it is not, in fact,
registered; or

(iv) to the effect that the registration of a geographical indication gives


an exclusive right to the use thereof in any circumstances in which,
164 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

having regard to limitations entered on the register, the registration


does not, in fact, give that right.

(2) If any person contravenes any of the provisions of sub-section (1),


he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than
one month but which may extend to six months, or with fine which shall not be
less than five hundred thousand rupees, or with both.

(3) For the purposes of this section, the use in Pakistan in relation to a
geographical indication of the word “registered”, or of any other expression
referring whether expressly or impliedly to registration, shall be deemed to
import a reference to registration in the register, except,—

(i) where that other expression is of itself such as to indicate that the
reference is to such registration as is mentioned in clause (i); or

(ii) where that word is used in relation to a mark registered as a


geographical indication under the laws of a country other than
Pakistan and in relation solely to goods to be exported to that
country.

(4) The Registrar may, either himself or upon a complaint in writing


made to him, call upon any person who is allegedly contravening any of the
provisions of clauses (i) to (iii) of sub-section (1) to show cause as to why action
should not be taken against him:

Provided that power of the Registrar shall be limited to the imposition of


fine as provided under sub-section (2), in addition he may refuse the application
for registration of the geographical indication if his application for registration of
GI as authorized user is pending. In case the authorized user of geographical
indication is registered, Registrar may order invalidation of the registration or
any combination thereof, as the case may be.

CHAPTER-IX

PROHIBITION ON ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSMISSION

43. Prohibition on transfer etc.—Notwithstanding anything


contained in any law for the time being in force, any right to a registered
geographical indication shall not be the subject matter of assignment,
transmission, licensing, pledge, mortgage, licensing or any such other agreement
by the authorized user, provided that on the death of an authorized user his right
in a registered geographical indication shall devolve on his successor in title
under the law for the time being in force.
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 165

CHAPTER-X

RECTIFICATION AND CORRECTION OF THE REGISTER

44. Power to vary a registration, and rectify or correct the Register.—


(1) Any person having a sufficient interest may apply for the rectification of an
error or omission in the Register:

Provided that an application for rectification may not be made in respect


of a matter affecting validity of registration of a geographical indication.

(2) The effect of rectification of the register shall be that the error or
omission in question shall be deemed never to have been made.

(3) The Registrar may, on application made in prescribed manner, by


the registrant or an authorized user enter any change in his name or address as
recorded in the register.

(4) The Registrar may, if he considers it necessary, implement any


amended or substituted classification of goods for purposes of registration of a
geographical indication as may be prescribed.

(5) The existing entries on the register may be amended to record any
new classification as may be prescribed.

45. Power to vary or cancel registration as an authorized user.—


(1) The registration of a person as an authorized user may be —

(i) amended, corrected or cancelled by the Registrar on the application


by the Registrant of the geographical indication or certification
body or organization in the prescribed manner for failure to
observe such conditions and restrictions which were pre-requisites
of registration as an authorized user;

(ii) amended, corrected or cancelled by the Registrar on the application


in writing in the prescribed manner by an authorized user of the
geographical indication; and

(iii) cancelled by the Registrar as envisaged under clauses (i) and (ii).

(2) Registration of authorized user may be varied or cancelled by IP


Tribunal in case of infringement of a registered geographical indication. It may
be varied or cancelled by High Court in case an appeal is filed against a decision
of registrar or an appeal filed against the order of IP Tribunal; in the prescribed
manner by any person aggrieved or organization on the grounds that the
166 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

authorized user has used the geographical indication in violation of the


provisions of this Act.

46. Rectification of registration of a trademark.—The Registrar of


Trade Marks Registry may, on his own motion or on application of an interested
party, refuse or rectify the registration of a trademark which consists of a
geographical indication with respect to goods not originating in the territory
indicated, if use of the indication in the trademark for such goods is of such a
nature so as to mislead the public with regard to the actual place of origin.

47. Power of Registrar to withdraw or transfer cases.—The Registrar


may, by order in writing and for reasons to be recorded therein, withdraw any
matter pending before an officer appointed under section 5 and deal with such
matter himself either de novo or from the stage it was so withdrawn or transfer
the same to another officer so appointed who may, subject to special directions
in the order of transfer, proceed with the matter either de novo or from the stage
it was so transferred.

48. Conflicting marks.—The Registrar shall, ex officio or at the


request of an interested person, refuse or invalidate registration of an authorized
user which contains or consists of a geographical indication to be used with
respect to goods of the same or similar description as those designated by that
geographical indication.

MISCELLANEOUS

49. Procedure before the Registrar.—(1) In all proceedings before


the Registrar under this Act,—

(i) the Registrar shall have all the powers of a civil court for the
purposes of receiving evidence, administering oaths, enforcing
attendance of witnesses, compelling discovery and production of
documents, issuing commissions for examination of witness and
granting a certificate of contested validity; and

(ii) evidence shall be given by affidavit, provided that the Registrar


may, if he thinks fit, take oral evidence in lieu of or in addition to
such evidence by affidavit.

(2) The Registrar shall not exercise any powers vested in him under
this Act or the rules made thereunder adversely to any party duly appearing
before him, without giving such party an opportunity of being heard.

50. Appeal against decision of the Registrar.—(1) Save as otherwise


expressly provided in this Act, an appeal shall lie, within the prescribed period,
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 167

against any decision of the Registrar under this Act or rules made thereunder to
the High Court having jurisdiction:

Provided that if any suit or other proceedings concerning the


geographical indication in question is pending before an IP Tribunal, the appeal
shall lie to the High Court within whose jurisdiction that IP Tribunal is situated.

(2) Subject to the provision of this Act and of rules made thereunder,
the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act V of 1908), shall apply
to appeal before the High Court.

51. Application of certain provisions of the Trade Marks Ordinance


2001 (XIX of 2001), including provisions in relation to importation of
infringing goods, material or articles.—The provisions of sections 52 to 68,
101, 104,113, 119,126 of the Trade Marks Ordinance 2001(XIX of 2001) shall
have effect to proceedings under this Act, in relation to all such matters referred
to and provided therein as they have effect in relation to similar matters under
the said Ordinance with respect to goods, except that references to the
Ordinance, trademark, Trademarks Registry and district court they shall be
deemed to be a reference to this Act, geographical indication, Geographical
Indications Registry and IP Tribunal respectively.

52. Adaptation of classification of goods.—For the purposes of this


Act, the Registrar shall use prescribed classifications, as revised or amended
from time to time.

53. Revocation.—Any interested person may request the Registrar


within twelve months of registration of an authorized user of geographical
indication; or the High Court at any time after registration of an authorized user
to revoke the registration of a geographical indication on the grounds provided
under section 8:

Provided that if any suit or other proceedings concerning the same


geographical indication are pending before an IP Tribunal, the application shall
be made to the High Court within whose jurisdiction that IP Tribunal is located.

54. Power of fee setting and collection.—The concerned Division


shall prescribe a schedule of fee and charges for services rendered to the
applicants and the public or as otherwise required under this Act. Any fee
collected under this Act or the rules shall be deposited in the name of Director
General IPO as demand draft or as may be prescribed.

55. Power to make rules.—The concerned Division shall make rules,


by notification in the official Gazette.
168 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., MARCH 31, 2020 [PART I

56. Registrar and other officers not compellable to produce


register.—The Registrar or any officer of the Registry shall not, in any legal
proceedings to which he is not a party, be compellable to produce the register or
any other document in his custody, the contents of which can be proved by the
production of a certified copy issued under the Act or to appear as a witness to
prove the matters therein recorded unless by order of the IP Tribunal made for
special cause.

57. Power to remove difficulties.—If any difficulty arises in giving


effect to the provisions of this Act, the Federal Government may, by notification
in the official Gazette, make such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions
of this Act as may appear to be necessary for removing the difficulty.

58. Repeal and savings.—(1) Clause (xix) of section 2 of the Trade


Marks Ordinance, 2001(XIX of 2001) is hereby repealed.

(2) On the commencement of this Act any geographical indication


registered under the Trade Marks Ordinance, 2001(XIX of 2001), shall
automatically stand repealed and a fresh registration process under this Act shall
require to be initiated. A non-exhaustive indicative list of prospective
geographical indications of Islamic Republic of Pakistan is provided for fresh
registration process in the Schedule of the Act.

TAHIR HUSSAIN,
Secretary.

PRINTED BY THE MANAGER, PRINTING CORPORATION OF PAKISTAN PRESS, ISLAMABAD.


PUBLISHED BY THE DEPUTY CONTROLLER, STATIONERY AND FORMS, UNIVERSITY ROAD, KARACHI.

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