Patent Registration Services in Pakistan

Patent registration is the process of obtaining exclusive legal rights for an invention through the Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) of Pakistan under the Patents Ordinance, 2000. A granted patent gives the inventor the sole right to make, use, sell, or license the invention in Pakistan for 20 years from the filing date.

To be patentable, an invention must be new (novel), involve an inventive step, and be capable of industrial application. This covers new products, processes, machines, pharmaceutical formulations, and technical methods. Discoveries, abstract ideas, and inventions contrary to public order or morality cannot be patented.

A registered patent in Pakistan is protected for 20 years from the filing date under the Patents Ordinance, 2000. To keep the patent in force, annual renewal fees (annuities) must be paid — typically starting from the fifth year. A six-month grace period with a penalty is allowed for late payment.

Pakistan operates a first-to-file patent system, meaning patent rights are granted to the first person to file a valid application for an invention — not necessarily the first to invent it. This makes timely filing critical, as a delay could allow someone else to secure the rights to a similar invention.

Patent costs depend on the complexity of the invention, specification drafting, and prosecution. IPO government fees are charged separately and vary by stage. TaxAccountant.pk charges PKR 90,000 as a service fee (excluding government charges) covering prior-art search, specification and claims drafting, filing, and prosecution.

Patent registration is the most detailed IP process. After filing, the application undergoes examination for novelty and inventive step, followed by publication and a 3-month opposition period before grant. The full process commonly takes two to four years depending on examination and any objections or oppositions.

You need: a complete patent specification (description, claims, and abstract), technical drawings or diagrams, CNIC of the inventor, a Power of Attorney appointing a registered patent agent, and an assignment deed if the applicant differs from the inventor. Priority documents are needed if claiming priority from a foreign filing.

A prior-art search (Form P-27) checks whether your invention already exists in the state of the art. Filing without a search risks rejection and wasted fees if a similar invention is already disclosed. The search also helps draft stronger claims around what is genuinely new in your invention.

Yes. Foreign individuals and companies can register patents in Pakistan but must appoint a registered patent agent or attorney to file on their behalf. Foreign applicants can also claim priority from an earlier application filed abroad under the Paris Convention, provided it is filed within the priority period.

Yes. TaxAccountant.pk provides patent registration services in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, and all 13 major cities across Pakistan. The IPO Patent Office is based in Karachi, and our service is available fully online nationwide.