Geographical Indication Registration in Pakistan under the GI Act 2020

The Act defines a geographical indication as an indication that identifies agricultural, natural or manufactured goods as originating in a territory, region or locality, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of the goods is essentially attributable to their geographical origin. For manufactured goods, at least one of the production, processing or preparation steps must take place in that area. A name that is not itself a place name can also qualify if it refers to goods from a specific area (s.2(1)(vii)).

“Goods” is read widely, from crops and minerals to handicrafts, industrial goods, food and drink (s.2(1)(xi)). An indication cannot be registered if it does not meet the definition, is likely to deceive or confuse, is not or no longer protected in its country of origin, has fallen into disuse there, is a generic name, or is contrary to morality or public policy (s.8).

Before 2020, GIs fell under the Trade Marks Ordinance 2001. The Act repealed the Ordinance’s GI definition, and any GI registered under the Ordinance stands repealed and must be registered afresh; the Act’s Schedule lists prospective Pakistani GIs (s.58).

This is the point most people miss. Under section 11(1), the Federal Government is the holder and exclusive owner of all geographical indications of Pakistan. A private company, cooperative or association cannot own a Pakistani GI.

There are two kinds of registration:

• The registrant. The Federal Government may allow a statutory body, public body, local or provincial administration, government enterprise or government organisation that is a juristic person with responsibility for the area to apply and register the GI as registrant (s.11(2); definition in s.2(1)(xxviii)). IPO-Pakistan calls the registrant the GI’s custodian: it prepares the book of specifications, registers it, recommends authorised users and enforces the GI.
• Authorised users. Once a GI is registered, producers or operators whose practices comply with the book of specifications may apply, with the registrant’s formal assent, to be registered as authorised users (ss.11(3), 17). “Producer” covers those who grow, exploit, make or process the goods, and “operator” covers those who collect, process, trade or distribute them (s.2(1)(xvi), (xxiii)). IPO-Pakistan lists producers, processors, traders and exporters as typical authorised users.

A producer group that wants a product protected therefore starts with the relevant public body and the concerned Division, which reconciles conflicts and supports drafting of the book of specifications (s.11(4)–(5)).

The Act establishes a Geographical Indications Registry under the management and control of IPO-Pakistan. Until a separate GI Registry is set up, the Trade Marks Registry and its branches carry out its functions and keep the register (s.3(1)–(2)), and the Registrar of Trade Marks acts as Registrar of Geographical Indications until a Registrar is appointed (s.4).

The register has two parts: Part A for registrants and Part B for authorised users (s.6(3)–(5)). It is open to public inspection, and anyone may obtain extracts (s.6(1), (6)). Applications for authorised users are published in the Geographical Indications Journal, which IPO-Pakistan publishes electronically on its website (r.2(i)). Goods are classified under the international (Nice) classification (s.7; r.13).

IPO-Pakistan’s list of registered GIs (read 13 October 2026) shows 17 registrations, from No. 01-R (21 January 2021, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan) to No. 17-R (30 October 2024). They include Hyderabad Bangles (02-R, 1 July 2022) and Sargodha Kinnow, Chaunsa Mango and Sindhri Mango (04-R to 06-R, 3 January 2023).

An application to register a GI must give (s.12(1); r.17):

• the applicant’s name and address, the indication and the class of goods;
• the geographical area, with a map;
• for a GI from another country, the legislative, administrative or judicial basis of its protection in the country of origin;
• particulars of the producers or operators, if any;
• the goods and their quality, reputation or other characteristics linked to the area; and
• a book of specifications.

The book of specifications is the core document. It sets out the geographical area, the production standards or product specifications, and the qualification process for GI goods (s.2(1)(iii)). Quality and characteristics must be defined by criteria that can be tested, whether qualitative, quantitative, physical, chemical or microbiological (s.12(3)). Reputation may be shown by the goods being widely known to and selected by consumers (s.12(2)).

A certification body designated by the concerned Division (currently the Commerce Division, says IPO-Pakistan) inspects and tests compliance. If an authorised user does not comply, it may warn, then apply to the Registrar for disqualification, suspension or cancellation. Authorised users bear the cost of these checks (s.13).

According to IPO-Pakistan, the registrant files Form GI-01 with the book of specifications and the Federal Government’s notification. IPO-Pakistan states that there is no fee for the registrant and no opposition process against the registrant.

The Registrar examines the application, may ask for further evidence or an expert’s opinion (ss.14–15; r.20), and may accept it absolutely or subject to conditions, with written reasons. On registration, the GI stands registered from the date of the application and a certificate is issued (s.16). A registrant’s registration is perpetual (s.25(1)).

IPO-Pakistan describes the route as follows. The applicant asks the registrant for assent and receives the book of specifications; gives the registrant an affidavit that the product complies; receives written assent; and files Form GI-01 with the assent and the official fee.

The application includes a statement of case showing the applicant’s interest as a producer or operator, an affidavit of conformity and the registrant’s consent (r.25). An accepted application is advertised in the GI Journal (s.19; r.34).

Source: GI Act 2020, GI Rules 2020 and IPO-Pakistan’s GI page, checked 13 October 2026.

Because the texts disagree on the opposition window, an opponent should file within one month of publication, and an applicant should not treat the application as unopposed until three months have passed. A party that neither resides nor carries on business in Pakistan may be asked for security for costs (s.20(10)).

A registered authorised user has the exclusive right to use the GI for the registered goods, subject to the book of specifications (ss.24(2), 26, 27), and may use the national GI logo (s.28; r.85). The right cannot be assigned, licensed or pledged; it passes only to a successor on death (s.43).

Source: GI Act 2020 and GI Rules 2020 (IPO-Pakistan copies under Official Sources), checked 13 October 2026.

Source: IPO-Pakistan, GI Fee & Forms, checked 13 October 2026. IPO-Pakistan says the registrant pays no fee. The schedule in the Rules as gazetted on 28 December 2020 shows lower figures for some forms (for example, PKR 500 for Form GI-03), so confirm the amount with the Registry. A form filed without its fee is treated as not filed (r.3(2)).

A GI of another country can be registered in Pakistan as long as it is registered under the law of its country of origin. The Registrar considers the title and date of the legislative or administrative provisions, or judicial decisions, that protect it there. A GI that is not, or is no longer, protected in its country of origin, or has fallen into disuse there, will not be registered (s.10(1)–(2)).

• Who files: the application is made at the Registry by the GI’s legal representative in Pakistan (s.10(3)).
• Proof: within a period set by the Registrar, the applicant must file proof from a competent government agency that the GI is registered or protected in its own country and that there is no pending cross-border dispute over it with another state (r.18).
• Address for service: an applicant with no principal place of business in Pakistan must give an address for service in Pakistan (r.10).
• Further information: the Registry may ask for details of the home registration (s.10(4)).

The Rules also keep a Register of Geographical Indications Agents, open to legal practitioners aged 21 or over whom the Registrar finds fit and proper after an interview (rr.73–79).

In the other direction, IPO-Pakistan says the registrant of a Pakistani GI files abroad, country by country, and that Pakistan is in the process of signing the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement, which would allow a single filing. Businesses protecting their own brands abroad use the trade mark system: see international trademark registration from Pakistan.

• Misleading trade marks. The Registrar of Trade Marks may, on his own motion or on an interested party’s application, refuse or rectify the registration of a trade mark that consists of a GI for goods not originating in the territory indicated, if the use would mislead the public about the true place of origin (Act s.46; r.60).
• Descriptive place names. Separately, section 14 of the Trade Marks Ordinance 2001 bars marks consisting exclusively of indications of geographical origin. Our guide to trademark objections in Pakistan explains how the Registry raises that objection.
• Trade names and domain names. Using a registered GI as a trade name or domain name without consent is a false application of the GI (s.40(1)(iv)–(v)).
• Permitted uses. Good-faith use, use of a person’s own name or place of business without likely confusion, good-faith indication of intended purpose and comparative advertising do not infringe (s.31).

Anyone adopting a brand that contains a place name should search both the trade mark register and the GI register first; see our guide to trademark search and clearance in Pakistan.

• What infringes: using the GI for goods that do not come from the area, including in translation or with words such as “kind”, “type”, “style” or “imitation”; using it for goods from the area that do not comply with the book of specifications; and using a deceptively similar indication likely to confuse (ss.30, 34(3)).
• Who may sue: the registrant and authorised users (s.32(1)); any interested person or group of producers or consumers may sue to prevent infringement (s.34(2)).
• Where: only in an IP Tribunal (s.35). Relief includes injunctions, confiscation, damages or an account of profits, and erasure or destruction of offending marks and goods (ss.32(2), 34(4), 36). Appeals from the Registrar lie to the High Court (s.50).
• Unregistered GIs: there is no infringement action, but passing off remains available (ss.32(3), 33).
• Offences: falsely applying a GI carries six months to three years’ imprisonment, a fine of at least PKR 1,000,000, or both, unless there was no intent to defraud (ss.40–41). Falsely representing a GI as registered carries one to six months, a fine of at least PKR 500,000, or both (s.42).
• Imports: sections 52 to 68 of the Trade Marks Ordinance, including its provisions on importation of infringing goods, apply to GI proceedings (s.51).

• Assuming a private association can own a Pakistani GI (s.11(1)).
• Relying on a GI registered under the 2001 Ordinance; those registrations were repealed (s.58(2)).
• Using the national GI logo, or the word “registered”, before authorised-user registration (s.42).
• Selling a business and assuming the authorised-user right goes with it (s.43).

Raza & Associates is an intellectual property and corporate law firm based in Lahore and established in 2005. It is listed in Tier 3 of The Legal 500 ranking for Pakistan intellectual property. Our trademark practice handles trade mark registration and search work in Pakistan and internationally. On GI questions we can:

• search the trade mark and GI registers before a brand containing a place name is adopted;
• oppose, or seek refusal or rectification of, trade marks that misuse a registered GI before the Registrar of Trade Marks; and
• advise on infringement and passing off; see our IP enforcement practice.

For trade mark matters, the firm’s team includes Hashim Raza, Registered Trade Mark Agent, IPO-Pakistan (Trade Marks Registry), Reg. No. TM-215/20, on the register since 25 January 2019. GI agents are entered on a separate register under the GI Rules (rr.73–79).

Foreign GI owners and their counsel can reach us through our European clients desk.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws and official fees change, so check the current position before you act.

• Geographical Indications (Registration and Protection) Act 2020, Act No. XVIII of 2020, Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), 31 March 2020: IPO-Pakistan copy.
• Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Rules 2020, Commerce Division notification of 22 December 2020, Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), 28 December 2020: IPO-Pakistan copy.
• IPO-Pakistan: Geographical Indications, GI Fee & Forms and Registered GIs of Pakistan (all read 13 October 2026).