By Our Correspondent
LAHORE: Pakistan Customs will destroy 43 consignments of counterfeit goods on the occasion of International Customs Day, January 26, 2026, as part of a nationwide drive led by the Directorate General of Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement (IPRE) to curb the import of fake products and safeguard the rights of international and national brands.
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The Directorate General of IPRE was established in 2017 to strengthen enforcement against intellectual property violations at Pakistan’s economic frontiers. Dedicated directorates were set up at three major stations — Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad — to ensure effective nationwide coverage and coordinated action against counterfeit trade. The jurisdiction of the IPRE Lahore Directorate includes Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Multan, which are among the country’s key commercial and industrial centers.
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During the ongoing fiscal year 2025-26, the IPRE Lahore Directorate has seized 43 consignments of counterfeit goods worth millions of rupees. These enforcement actions were carried out under the leadership of Director General IPRE Abdul Qadir Memon, Director IPRE Lahore Azood-ul-Mehdi and Additional Director Customs (ADC) Aneeq Afzal. The seized items include counterfeit ladies’ handbags, men’s wallets, shoes and joggers, cosmetics and sunglasses bearing the names and logos of several renowned international and local brands.
Explaining the role of the Directorate, Lahore IPRE Director Azood-ul-Mehdi officials said the wing functions as the specialized enforcement arm of Pakistan Customs to identify, detain and take legal action against counterfeit and pirated goods at seaports, airports, dry ports and inland customs stations. The Directorate works in close coordination with trademark owners, rights holders and other law enforcement agencies to verify brand authenticity, conduct risk profiling, assess suspected consignments and initiate confiscation and prosecution under relevant customs and intellectual property laws.
The director said the impact of IPRE’s work on international trade is substantial, as strong intellectual property rights enforcement promotes innovation, protects domestic and foreign investment and enhances the market reach of established brands. They added that effective enforcement encourages technology transfer and helps attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by assuring international businesses that their products and trademarks are protected within Pakistan’s market.
Highlighting performance during the year 2025-26, he noted that the consistent seizure of counterfeit consignments reflects improved intelligence gathering, enhanced inter-agency coordination and strengthened risk management systems within Pakistan Customs. The destruction of seized goods on International Customs Day is aimed at sending a clear message to importers and traders that the country will not tolerate the circulation of fake and substandard products.
On alignment with international best practices, IPRE officials said the Directorate follows standards and guidelines of the World Customs Organization and international conventions related to intellectual property protection. Pakistan Customs, they said, remains committed to upholding the spirit of the international customs community by ensuring seamless IPR enforcement, safeguarding innovation and entrepreneurship and protecting the country’s credibility in global trade.
Senior customs officials and key stakeholders are expected to attend the destruction ceremony, reinforcing Pakistan Customs’ resolve to combat counterfeit trade and promote a fair, transparent and competitive trading environment.
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