Pakistan has a comprehensive legal framework for regulation of its seed sector. However, a specific legal mechanism for the protection of intellectual property rights in new plant varieties was previously lacking. To address this gap, the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act, 2016 was enacted to provide for the protection of plant breeders’ rights and to encourage the development of new plant varieties. The Act is supplemented by the Plant Breeders’ Rights Rules, 2018, which prescribe the procedures and requirements for its implementation.

For implementation of the Regulations, the Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) Registry has been established under the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Government of Pakistan. The PBR Registry is the principal executive and technical body responsible for facilitating the protection of eligible plant varieties, processing applications, granting Plant Breeders’ Rights certificates, and maintaining the Register of protected plant varieties. It also contributes to the promotion of plant breeding and the protection of the rights of breeders and farmers.

The Plant Breeders’ Rights system is intended to encourage the development of new and improved plant varieties by providing legal protection to eligible breeders. Such protection provides an incentive for investment in plant varietal research and development and may contribute to increased participation of both domestic and foreign entities in the development of improved varieties of different crop species.

The PBR Registry, headquartered in Islamabad, commenced receiving applications for Plant Variety Protection on 15 February 2021. Plant Variety Protection is available for eligible varieties belonging to the plant species notified or listed as protectable by the PBR Registry.