Pakistan has an intensive and up-to-date legislation to regulate its dynamic seed industry. However, legal protection for new plant varieties was lacking. To overcome this deficiency, the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act, 2016 was promulgated. The Act was lateron supported by the Plant Breeders’ Rights Rules, 2018.

For implementation of the Plant Breeders’ Rights Regulations, Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) Registry has been set up under the Ministry of National Food Security and Research. The PBR Registry is the main executive and technical body for grant of protection rights to the breeders of new plant varieties in Pakistan. It aims at encouraging development of promising varieties of crops and protecting the breeders’ Intellectual Property rights. It is expected to promote entrepreneurship and attract local as well as foreign investment in research and development of improved varieties of various crop species.

The PBR Registry, having its head office at Islamabad,  started receiving applications for the Plant Variety Protection in February, 2021. The protection is currently available for novel varieties of almost all commercial crops.