Pakistan — Intellectual Property
Pakistan's IP regime is governed by the Patents Ordinance 2000 (amended 2010), the Trade Marks Ordinance 2001 (in force from April 2004), and the Patents and Designs Act 1911 for legacy matters. Pakistan joined the Madrid Protocol in February 2021. Further reform is proposed under the Patent Amendment Bill 2024 to align with PCT and international best practices.
Pakistan is not a contracting state to the PCT. PCT national phase applications cannot be filed in Pakistan, though it is expected to join in the near future.
- Ordinary Application — filed by the true and first inventor or their assignee; inventor must endorse in presence of two witnesses
- Conventional Application — priority from Paris Convention or WTO member country; must be filed within 12 months of the priority application
Specification must be on A4 paper with margins of at least 2 cm (top, right, bottom) and 2.5 cm (left). Drawings on smooth/durable white A4 paper (2.5 cm top & left, 1.5 cm right, 1 cm bottom).
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Patent term | 20 years from accorded filing date |
| Annuity commencement | 5th year from filing date |
| Grace period for renewal | 6 months with surcharge |
Pakistan follows the Nice Classification (9th Edition). Service marks are registrable. Multi-class filing is not permitted. Pakistan has been a Madrid Protocol member since February 24, 2021 (effective for designations from May 24, 2021).
The Trade Marks Act 1940 applies to applications filed before 12 April 2004; the Trade Marks Ordinance 2001 applies to applications filed on or after that date.
- Trademark representation
- Full name, address, status and nationality of applicant(s)
- International Class
- Description of goods or services
- Date of use in Pakistan (if any)
- Whether applicant is trader, manufacturer, merchant or service provider
- Translation/transliteration if mark is not in English
- Priority details (application no., country, date) — certified copy within 3 months of filing
- Power of Authority — signed (with company seal if available) and notarised
| Filing Date | Initial Term | Renewal Term |
|---|---|---|
| Before 12 April 2004 | 7 years | 15 years each |
| On/after 12 April 2004 | 10 years | 10 years each |
Conventional priority is available for industrial design applications in Pakistan. The application must be made within six months of first filing in a Paris Convention member country. The design must be absolutely novel and original and must not have been published anywhere in the world before the priority or filing date.
- Name, address and nationality of applicant(s)
- Title of article
- Multiple views of the article (front, back, top, side, bottom, perspective) — 6 photographic sets, or drawings/sketches by email
- Priority details (application no., date, country) where applicable — application must be within 6 months
- Power of Attorney — signed with company seal and notarised
Certified copy of priority document within 3 months of filing. If not in English: notarised English translation + certificate of translation, or plain translation with two separate notarised affidavits (by translator and by applicant).
| Period | Details |
|---|---|
| Initial term | 10 years |
| Renewal | One further term of 10 years |
| Maximum total term | 20 years |
IP services in Pakistan.
From initial filing through registration, renewal and enforcement — explore our practice guides for a detailed look at each service.
Filing & Prosecution
Registration
Designs
Protection
Technology Transfer
& Disputes
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