If you have built something genuinely new – a product, a process, a piece of machinery, or an improvement to one – a patent is what stops anyone else in Pakistan from making, using, or selling it without your permission for up to 20 years. Filing one isn’t complicated once you know the sequence, but it does need to be done through the Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan), on the right form, with a specification that actually holds up.
What Qualifies for Patent Protection
Under the Patents Ordinance 2000, an invention has to meet three tests before IPO-Pakistan will grant it: it must be novel (not already part of the “state of the art” anywhere in the world), it must involve an inventive step (not obvious to someone skilled in that field), and it must have industrial applicability (it can actually be made or used). A patent can’t be granted for a mere idea – you need a working, described invention, and the application is examined for both technical and legal merit before anything is granted.
The Filing Process, Step by Step
- File the application. Most applicants use Form P-1 (sole or joint inventor applying directly) or P-1A (where the true inventor isn’t a party to the application). The filing fee is PKR 6,750, with an extra PKR 90 per page of specification beyond 40 pages and PKR 225 per claim beyond 20 claims. If you’re not ready to file a complete specification yet, a provisional specification (Form P-3, PKR 2,025) locks in your priority date and gives you 12 months to file the complete version.
- Examination. An examiner in the relevant technical field checks the application for compliance with the Ordinance and searches national and international records to confirm the invention is new and non-obvious. If anything falls short, IPO-Pakistan issues an office action; you get the chance to respond or amend the application.
- Acceptance and publication. Once objections are cleared, the application is accepted and advertised in the Official Gazette, Part V. This publication opens a window during which third parties can file a notice of opposition.
- Grant. If no opposition succeeds, a request for sealing (Form P-10) is filed and the patent is granted, giving you enforceable rights for 20 years from the filing date – provided renewal fees are paid on schedule.
What It Costs
Beyond the PKR 6,750 filing fee, expect a request-for-search fee (Form P-27, PKR 1,500) if you want a prior-art search done, and renewal fees starting from the 5th year onward that increase in four-year bands (12,000 / 18,000 / 24,000 / 32,000). Professional drafting and prosecution costs are separate and vary by invention complexity.
Why a Professional Prior-Art Search Matters
Most rejected applications fail on novelty or inventive step – not because the invention wasn’t good, but because nobody checked what was already out there before filing. A proper prior-art search and a specification drafted to withstand examiner scrutiny make the difference between a smooth grant and months of back-and-forth office actions. Our patent registration services cover the search, drafting, filing, and prosecution end to end, so the application is built to survive examination the first time.
Patents are one piece of a wider IP strategy – if you haven’t yet secured your brand name or logo, see our guide on how to register your brand in Pakistan.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a Pakistani patent last?
20 years from the filing date, as long as renewal fees are paid on time from the 5th year onward.
Can I file without a patent attorney?
Yes, it isn’t mandatory, but because the application becomes a legal document examined by officials and potentially courts, most applicants use a patent attorney to draft the specification and claims.
What’s the difference between a provisional and complete specification?
A provisional specification (Form P-3) secures an early priority date but doesn’t grant protection on its own; you must file the complete specification within 12 months.
How much does it cost to file a patent application in Pakistan?
The base filing fee is PKR 6,750, plus PKR 90 per specification page beyond 40 pages and PKR 225 per claim beyond 20 claims.
