In mid-2004, the European Commission (EC), joined efforts along with three United Nations agencies. This is how the EC along with the International Trade Centre (UNCTAD/WTO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) agreed to start a trade-related technical assistance programme in Pakistan aimed at : (i) creating awareness and building the necessary capacity in Pakistan to benefit fully from its participation in the WTO Agreements; (ii) improving the quality, standards, metrology and accreditation systems in the country; and, (iii) strengthening the IPR system in Pakistan and enhance the country’s capacity to use the intellectual property system for developmental goals.

With this vision in mind, the EC agreed to finance Euro 5,000,000 for this programme while ITC, UNIDO and WIPO agreed to contribute Euro 200,000; 200,000; and 50,000 respectively. The Government of Pakistan also agreed to provide an in-kind contribution of Euro 1,111,000. The EC nominated ITC as the overall coordinator of the programme. The programme counts with offices in Europe (headquarters of ITC and WIPO in Geneva and UNIDO in Vienna) as well as local offices in Islamabad.