As noted in our July 1997 Newsletter (N.S. 188), the President of Pakistan issued an ordinance on February 4, 1997 to provide means for filing of patent applications relating to pharmaceuticals and agrichemical products in the period prior to the date on which Pakistan becomes obligated to provide protection for these types of products under GATT-TRIPS. After a period in which the ordinance may technically have lapsed as a result of failure to obtain parliamentary approval in time, the Pakistan National Assembly passed the Patents and Designs (Amendment) Act on September 3 to reconfirm the provisions of the ordinance.