IPO and PITB Unite for Landmark Digital Transformation Initiative

In a groundbreaking development, the Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) of Pakistan and the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) have officially collaborated, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to propel the digitalization and automation of IPO-Pakistan, as reported by APP.

The MoU, inked by Ms. Shazia Adnan, Director General of IPO, and Saima R. Shaikh, Director General of PITB, aims to revolutionize the IPO landscape, making it more accessible to the public and businesses across the country.

Chairman IPO, Ambassador Farukh Amil, emphasized the significance of enhancing visibility on various platforms and raising public awareness. He highlighted the ongoing efforts to digitalize IPO with the support of PITB, underscoring the importance of modernization in providing services to the public and business communities.

Farukh stated that the sizable youth population in Pakistan, primarily connected to IT and social media, will benefit from the online capabilities, enabling them to submit complaints and access other services conveniently.

The Chairman further mentioned ongoing initiatives to educate the youth about IPO in universities and educational institutions, fostering financial literacy among them.

Director General IPO, Shazia Adnan, shared that the collaboration with PITB would simplify online payments and documentation processes within the next two months, contributing to the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) in IPO.

Highlighting the advancements, Shazia revealed that the online system, initiated in October 2023, now allows the submission of 17 different forms. With 33 modules in place, people no longer need to physically visit the IPO office, resulting in a streamlined and transparent process.

She emphasized the strengthening of digitalization within IPO to enhance the Ease of Doing Business and provide more accessible facilities to the public.

Shazia stated, "The primary objective of this MOU is to provide the basis for the IPO-Pakistan to digitize its collection and payment system by implementing an alternate method of payments."

PITB's Director General, Saima R Sheikh, highlighted the institutional support being provided for the digitization of IPO, emphasizing its positive impact on simplifying processes and improving efficiency.

Saima underscored that the online system would enhance the ease of doing business, making services available to the public through online platforms such as banking and apps.

The scope of the project involves the automation and digitization of payment collection via all Alternative Delivery Channels (ADC), with PITB providing a web-based software solution named PayZen to facilitate this transformation.