Registering your brand in Pakistan means trademark registration with the Intellectual Property Organization (IPO-Pakistan), not SECP or FBR – a common point of confusion since it’s a completely different regulator from the one handling company incorporation. If you have a business name, logo, or slogan you want legal protection for, trademark registration is the actual mechanism.
Trademark vs. Company Name Registration
Registering a company name with SECP only reserves that name for your specific company entity – it doesn’t stop someone else from using a similar name for a different type of business or product in the market. Trademark registration with IPO-Pakistan is what actually protects your brand identity (name, logo, tagline) against use by others in your product/service category nationwide.
How the Trademark Registration Process Works
You file a trademark application with IPO-Pakistan specifying the class of goods/services your brand covers (Pakistan follows the international Nice Classification system with 45 classes). The process runs through these stages:
- Search (optional but recommended) – file Form TM-55 to check the Trademarks Register for identical or similar existing marks before you apply.
- Application – file Form TM-1 (or TM-2 if claiming convention priority from another country) for one mark in one class. IPO-Pakistan issues an Acknowledgement Receipt.
- Examination – an Examination Report is generated. If there are objections, they’re communicated as a Show Cause Notice, and you have two months to respond.
- Publication – if there are no objections (or your response resolves them), the application is published in the Trade Marks Journal.
- Opposition window – anyone can oppose your application within two months of publication. If no one does, it stands accepted.
- Registration – IPO-Pakistan issues a Demand Notice for the registration fee. Once paid, the Registration Certificate is issued.
What You’ll Need to File
Generally required: the brand name/logo you want to register, 8 clear reproductions of the mark, the specific class(es) of goods or services it covers, applicant details (individual or company), a Power of Attorney if filing through an advocate or agent, and the prescribed fee via Pay Order or Bank Draft in the name of the Director General, IPO-Pakistan (cash is not accepted).
How Long Does It Take?
Based on IPO-Pakistan’s own published average processing times, here’s what the timeline typically looks like if your application isn’t opposed:
- Acknowledgement Receipt after filing: ~15 working days
- First Examination Report: ~4 months
- Action on your reply (if there were objections): ~3 months
- Acceptance and publication: ~2 months
- Opposition window: 2 months (built into the publication stage)
- Registration (if unopposed) from acceptance: ~6 months total, including publication and the opposition window
- Registration Certificate after paying the Demand Notice: ~3 months
Add these stages together and a straightforward, unopposed application typically takes roughly 12-18 months from filing to certificate – longer if there are objections to answer or an opposition to contest.
How Much Does It Cost?
Official IPO-Pakistan government fees (per class, current schedule):
- TM-55 (Trademark search): Rs. 1,000
- TM-1 (Application to register, one class): Rs. 3,000
- TM-12 (Renewal, every 10 years): Rs. 15,000, plus Rs. 900 late fee if missed
- TM-5 (Notice of opposition, if someone opposes your mark or you oppose another): Rs. 9,000
These are government fees only, filed per class – a multi-class application multiplies the per-class fees. Most applicants also pay a trademark agent or advocate for filing assistance, given how technical classification and opposition handling can get.
Validity and Renewal
A registered trademark is valid for 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed indefinitely every 10 years via Form TM-12.
Why Registering Early Matters
Pakistan operates on a first-to-file trademark system in most respects, meaning delaying registration risks someone else filing for a similar mark first, even if you’ve been using your brand name longer. If your brand has any commercial traction or growth plans, filing sooner rather than later reduces this risk materially.
If you haven’t registered your company yet, see our business registration guide. To file a trademark application online, see our guide to registering as a SELF user on IPO-Pakistan’s online filing system, or visit the IPO-Pakistan online filing portal directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is trademark registration actually handled – IPO-Pakistan, SECP, or FBR?
IPO-Pakistan exclusively. SECP handles company incorporation and name reservation; FBR handles tax registration. None of them register trademarks.
Can I file for multiple classes in one application?
No – each class requires its own Form TM-1 and its own fee. If your brand covers goods and services across several Nice Classification classes, you file (and pay) separately for each one.
What happens if someone opposes my trademark application?
You’ll need to respond within the timeframe IPO-Pakistan specifies. Opposition proceedings are decided case by case and can extend the overall timeline significantly beyond the standard 12-18 months.
Where can I physically file a trademark application?
At IPO-Pakistan’s offices in Islamabad (HQ), Karachi (Trade Marks Registry), or Lahore (Regional Office) – or online through the IPO-Pakistan e-filing portal.
Can I pay the trademark fee in cash?
No – the Trade Marks Registry only accepts Pay Orders or Bank Drafts made out to the Director General, IPO-Pakistan.
Want us to handle the filing for you? Our trademark registration service manages the entire process from search to certificate. For the legal text, see the official Trade Marks Ordinance, 2001.
