ISLAMABAD (November 25 2002) : The government has started investigation against the undocumented exporters of compact discs (CDs) violating piracy law by making unauthorised copies pertaining to software, music and video films.
The Ministry of Commerce and Central Board of Revenue (CBR) have jointly launched countrywide drive to ascertain that the compact disc plants in Pakistan are subject to any regulatory control or not.
This would enable the authorities to check illegal export of CDs under copyright laws.
Official sources told Business Recorder on Sunday that the Ministry of Commerce has received reports, ascertaining that the production of various types of CDs exceeds the local demand. Approximately 47131000 units of CDs are said to be sent out from Pakistan to various countries like Australia, Bangladesh, Canada and South Africa etc.
According to WTO Wing, Ministry of Commerce, some quarters have expressed serious concerns that some of the exporters were involved in illegal copies of software, music and video films.
The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has issued instructions to all collectors of customs to submit the statistics of documented exports, channels of exports, destination and type of CDs exported.
The CBR will compile the data and submit it to the commerce ministry for further necessary action.
