Pakistan International Film Festival 2025 Opens in Karachi, Spotlighting Creativity, AI, and Intellectual Property Rights
KARACHI: The Pakistan International Film Festival (PIFF) 2025 officially kicked off on Thursday at the Karachi Film School, celebrating the transformative power of creativity, technology, and intellectual property (IP). The four-day event, hosted by the Karachi Film Society in collaboration with the Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) and the Collective Organisation for Music Rights in Pakistan (COMP), aims to highlight the crucial role of IP rights in empowering artists, musicians, and creators.
Exploring AI and the Future of Intellectual Property
The festival opened with two dynamic panel discussions. The first, titled “The Impact of Technology and AI on Creative Ownership”, brought together leading voices from tech and creative sectors.
Professor Kashif Laeeq, a data science expert, emphasized the double-edged nature of Generative AI: “If not guided properly, AI-generated content can cross ethical lines and even lead to copyright issues.” He warned that over-reliance on AI without human originality may be considered plagiarism.
PEMRA’s DG Sindh, Tufail Channa, acknowledged AI as a growing concern and said regulatory frameworks are still evolving to address AI content in Pakistan.
Technology strategist Jawad Paracha also weighed in, underscoring the value of patents in the creative economy: “A single patent can generate long-term revenues if protected properly.”
A video message from Sylvie Forbin, Deputy Director of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), reinforced the importance of safeguarding intellectual property across industries.
Empowering Artists Through Intellectual Property
The second panel, “How IP Rights Empower Artists and Musicians”, was moderated by Syed Nasrullah and featured insights from industry veterans.
Composer Arshad Mahmood called for greater recognition of lyricists and poets in the music industry. “Why not mention the poet’s name when performing a song?” he asked.
Legendary pop singer Mohammad Ali Shyhaki stressed the importance of copyrights for fair compensation. “If your work is played on TV, radio, or social media, you should earn from it,” he said.
PTV’s DG Amjad Hussain reflected on past mistakes where original creators were often uncredited, urging new artists to secure proper registration of their work.
Filmmaker Babar Sheikh and music consultant Umnia J. Iftikhar both emphasized awareness and accessibility: “With today’s digital tools, there’s no excuse not to protect your content and earn royalties,” said Iftikhar.
Lawyer Teymour Aslam also shared practical advice on copyright enforcement in Pakistan.
Festival Opens with Star Power and Cultural Fusion
The opening ceremony was graced by Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and HUM Network’s President Sultana Siddiqui, who jointly inaugurated the event.
Siddiqui highlighted the role of media in preserving original works, while former ambassador Farukh Amil, Chairperson of IPO-Pakistan, delivered a keynote speech on the link between intellectual property, creativity, and economic growth.
A message from WIPO Director General Daren Tang offered a global perspective on copyright protection in the digital age.
Celebrating Art and Music
The evening concluded with live musical performances by the NAPA team and Saif Samejo with his band, blending tradition and innovation — a fitting close to a day that celebrated Pakistan’s creative potential.
The PIFF 2025 continues through the weekend, promising more panel talks, film screenings, and networking opportunities aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s cultural and creative industries through innovation and legal empowerment.
