The Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) has urged Pakistan’s senior leadership to urgently finalise copyright amendments needed for full compliance with the Marrakesh Treaty. In letters dated September 24, 2025, CPDI appealed to the President, the Prime Minister, the Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and the Secretary of the Ministry of Law and Justice to take decisive steps to end the prolonged delay and prioritise work on the copyright amendments.
CPDI asked the President to advise the relevant ministries, requested the Prime Minister to direct the Ministry of Law and Justice to treat the matter as a priority, asked the Ministry of Commerce to coordinate with the Law Ministry as the parent department, and urged the Law Secretary to expedite the vetting process that remains pending.
Pakistan acceded to the Marrakesh Treaty on December 12, 2023, and the treaty entered into force for Pakistan on June 12, 2024. Draft changes prepared and approved by the Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan) were submitted to the federal government in February 2024, but those proposed copyright amendments have remained with the Ministry of Law and Justice for final vetting and placement before Parliament.
Mukhtar Ahmad Ali, Executive Director of CPDI, said, “It is unfortunate that such an inordinate delay has persisted since February 2024—more than one year and seven months till now—in finalising the required amendments. The Marrakesh Treaty is a critical instrument for ensuring that persons with visual impairment can access published works in accessible formats. The continued delay is denying thousands of citizens their fundamental right to information and knowledge. We urge the government to act without further delay and honour Pakistan’s international commitments.”
Nosheen Khurram, Manager Communications at CPDI, added, “The government must treat this as an urgent priority. Every additional month of delay means lost opportunities for persons with visual impairment to access books and other published works that are readily available to their peers in other Marrakesh-compliant countries. Swift action will demonstrate Pakistan’s commitment to inclusive access to information.” The call from CPDI highlights the immediate need to complete the vetting and move the amendments forward so that accessible reading materials become available to visually impaired readers across the country.
