This Tuesday, Pakistan officially joined the Marrakesh Treaty, a significant international agreement focusing on ensuring the production and international transfer of specially adapted books for individuals with blindness or visual impairments.
President Dr. Arif Alvi signed the instrument of accession during a special ceremony at the Aiwan-e- Sadr, naming it a “great moment of pride.” He emphasized that the treaty would create an environment of learning and equal opportunity for educating the neglected class of society.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)-administered Marrakesh Treaty was adopted on June 27, 2013, and entered into force on September 30, 2016. With Pakistan’s accession, there are now 94 contracting parties to the treaty. The goal of the treaty is to enhance education and life opportunities for individuals with visual impairments, align with international human rights principles, and promote economic development and social progress.
By joining the Marrakesh Treaty, Pakistan has taken a significant step toward providing approximately 10 million visually impaired individuals with convenient access to published materials.