# Trademark search in Pakistan: how to check a brand name on IPO before you file

URL: https://which.pk/business/guides/trademark-search-pakistan/
Author: Ahtisham
Updated: 18 Oct 2026

## Summary

IPO-Pakistan's official trademark search costs Rs 1,000 per class on form TM-55 and takes about 15 days. As of 18 October 2026, IPO's own online search and status services are marked 'coming soon'. You can also search in person at IPO offices for Rs 300 per 15 minutes, or check WIPO's Global Brand Database for free first. A clear search doesn't guarantee registration: IPO searches again after you file and can refuse similar or descriptive marks.

## Key facts

- Official search (TM-55): Rs 1,000 per class
- Result: About 15 days
- Personal search: Rs 300 per 15 minutes
- IPO online search: 'Coming soon' (18 Oct 2026)

A **trademark search in Pakistan** is done through IPO-Pakistan's Trade Marks Registry. The official route is **form TM-55**, which costs **Rs 1,000 per class** and returns a result in about 15 days. IPO's own online search is still marked **"coming soon"** on its website as of 18 October 2026. You can also search in person at an IPO office for Rs 300 per 15 minutes.

**IPO's online search isn't live yet:** On 18 October 2026, IPO's home page lists "E-Search" and "E-Status" as "coming soon". The old search address (search.ipo.gov.pk) and the filing portal (apply.ipo.gov.pk) didn't respond when we tried them on 7 and 18 October 2026.

## What are the ways to do a trademark search in Pakistan?

| Method | Cost | Time | What it checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official search, form TM-55 | Rs 1,000 per class | About 15 days | Registered marks and pending applications in one class |
| Personal search at an IPO office | Rs 300 per 15 minutes | Same day | The Registry's records, searched by you |
| Trademarks Journal (online PDFs) | Free | Your time | Marks published for opposition |
| WIPO Global Brand Database | Free | Minutes | WIPO's Pakistan collection; we couldn't check how complete it is |

Fees are from IPO's fee page as of October 2026. IPO's 2019 filing guide calls the search "optional" but advises doing it before you apply.

## How do I file an official trademark search (TM-55)?

1. **Pick the class.** One TM-55 covers one mark in **one class**. Find yours in IPO's classification summary (see below). A brand used for two kinds of goods needs two searches.
2. **Download form TM-55** from IPO's "Fee & Forms" page and fill in the goods or services you want to cover.
3. **Prepare two copies of the mark.** IPO's guide asks for two representations, each mounted on a sheet of strong paper.
4. **Get a pay order or bank draft for Rs 1,000** in the name of Director General, IPO-Pakistan. The Registry doesn't accept cash. Your bank may ask for IPO's FTN, 9010120-7.
5. **Submit it** at the Trade Marks Registry in Karachi, IPO's head office in Islamabad or its Lahore regional office.
6. **Wait for the report.** IPO's average time for a TM-55 search report is about 15 days. Under rule 87, it tells you whether any registered mark or pending application resembles yours.

## Can I search a brand name myself at IPO?

Yes. Rule 88 of the Trade Marks Rules allows a **personal search**. IPO's 2019 guide says it's available at the Trade Marks Registry in Karachi, IPO's head office in Islamabad and the Lahore regional office. It costs a **Rs 300 bank draft for 15 minutes**. IPO's fee page lists the same Rs 300 for each quarter of an hour.

The addresses, from IPO's FAQ page (checked 18 Oct 2026):

- **Karachi (Trade Marks Registry):** IP-House, Plot CD-3, behind KDA Civic Centre, Gulshan-e-Iqbal
- **Islamabad (head office):** 3rd Floor, NTC-HQs Building, Attaturk Avenue (East), G-5/2
- **Lahore (regional office):** Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry building, 11 Shahrah-e-Aiwan-e-Sanat-o-Tijarat, near China Chowk

## Is there a free trademark search in Pakistan?

There are two free checks, but neither replaces the official search:

- **The Trademarks Journal.** IPO posts each issue as a PDF on its E-Journal page, with an archive back to 2004. The latest issues are No. 907 (25 Sep 2026), 906 (25 Aug 2026) and 905 (27 Jul 2026). Each is a large file: issue 907 is about 30 MB. The Journal shows marks published for opposition, not every pending application.
- **WIPO's Global Brand Database.** WIPO's Pakistan country page links a search of "the national trademark collection for: Pakistan". We couldn't open WIPO's coverage page (it asks for a CAPTCHA), so we don't know how complete or recent the Pakistan data is.

A free search that finds nothing doesn't mean a name is free to use. Only IPO's own records, through TM-55 or a personal search, cover registered marks and pending applications together.

## Which trademark class should I search?

IPO uses the Nice Classification, with goods in the lower classes and services from **class 35 to 45**. Common ones for small businesses, from IPO's classification summary:

| Class | Covers |
|---|---|
| 25 | Clothing, footwear, headwear |
| 30 | Coffee, tea, rice, flour, bread, pastries, confectionery, spices |
| 35 | Advertising, business management |
| 43 | Food and drink services (restaurants), temporary accommodation |

Search every class you plan to register in. A clothing brand that also runs a shop may need more than one class.

## What does a trademark clash look like?

The Trade Marks Ordinance sets out when IPO refuses a mark because of an earlier one (section 17):

- **Same mark, same goods or services:** refused.
- **Same or similar mark, same or similar goods or services:** refused if the public is likely to be confused, including thinking the two are connected.
- **Similar to an earlier mark with a reputation in Pakistan:** can be refused even for different goods, if it takes unfair advantage of or harms that reputation.

"Earlier mark" includes **pending applications**, not just registered ones (section 18). The earlier owner can consent, and then the mark can be registered.

IPO can also refuse a mark on its own merits (section 14): if it isn't distinctive, or only describes the product's kind, quality, purpose or origin, unless it has become distinctive through use. A search report doesn't check this.

**A clear search is not a guarantee:** After you file, the Registrar runs its own search (rule 26) and can raise objections. Once your mark is published in the Journal, anyone can oppose it within two months.

## What do I do after the search?

If the search is clear, apply on form **TM-1** for each class: Rs 3,000 to apply and Rs 9,000 to register, per IPO's fee page. The full process, timelines and online filing are in [trademark registration in Pakistan](/business/guides/trademark-registration-pakistan/).

Register your business first or alongside it: see [how to register a sole proprietorship](/business/guides/how-to-register-sole-proprietorship/) or [how to register a company](/business/guides/how-to-register-a-company-in-pakistan/).

More guides: [Company Setup](/business/company-setup/), [business structures in Pakistan](/business/guides/business-structures-pakistan/), [how to start an e-commerce business](/business/guides/ecommerce-business-pakistan/).

## Questions people ask

### Can I do a trademark search online in Pakistan?

Not on IPO's own website as of 18 October 2026: its E-Search and E-Status services are marked 'coming soon'. WIPO's Global Brand Database lists a Pakistan national collection you can use as a free first check, but the official search is form TM-55.

### How much does a trademark search cost in Pakistan?

Rs 1,000 per class for an official search on form TM-55, paid by pay order or bank draft to Director General, IPO-Pakistan. A personal search at an IPO office costs Rs 300 per 15 minutes.

### How long does an IPO trademark search take?

IPO's published average for a TM-55 search report is about 15 days.

### Does a clear search mean my trademark will be registered?

No. IPO searches again after you apply, and it can refuse a mark that isn't distinctive or only describes the product. Anyone can still oppose your mark within two months of its publication in the Trademarks Journal.

## Sources

- [IPO-Pakistan home page (online services)](https://ipo.gov.pk/), IPO-Pakistan (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Guidelines for Filing Trademark Application in Pakistan (March 2019)](https://ipo.gov.pk/system/files/final%20Guidelines%20for%20Filing%20Trademark%20Application%20in%20Pakistan%20%281%29%20-%2020032019_0.pdf), IPO-Pakistan (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Trademarks: Fee & Forms](https://ipo.gov.pk/trademarks-fee-forms), IPO-Pakistan (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Trade Marks Rules, 2004](https://ipo.gov.pk/system/files/Trade_Marks_Rules_2004.pdf), IPO-Pakistan (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Trademark: Frequently Asked Questions](https://ipo.gov.pk/trademark_faqs), IPO-Pakistan (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Average Process Time for Services of Trade Marks Registry](https://ipo.gov.pk/trademark_average_time), IPO-Pakistan (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [Trademarks E-Journal](https://ipo.gov.pk/trademarks-e-journal), IPO-Pakistan (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Classification Summary](https://ipo.gov.pk/classification_summary), IPO-Pakistan (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Trade Marks Ordinance, 2001 (as amended in 2023)](https://ipo.gov.pk/system/files/03-Trade%20Marks%20Ordinance%202001%20%28as%20amended%20in%202023%29.pdf), IPO-Pakistan (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [WIPO country profile: Pakistan](https://www.wipo.int/en/web/country-profiles/pk), WIPO (accessed 18 Oct 2026)