Geographical Indications in Pakistan and How to Use One
You cannot own a GI in Pakistan. The Federal Government does. Producers register as Authorized Users for an official fee of Rs 1,000.
You cannot own a geographical indication in Pakistan. The State does. What a producer or exporter can get is registration as an Authorized User, and the official fee for that is Rs 1,000.
That distinction surprises almost everyone who asks about registering basmati, Himalayan salt or a regional mango. The GI is not a trademark you own. It is a national asset you are permitted to use.
We read this on the Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan's own site at ipo.gov.pk on 4 September 2026.
What a GI actually is
IPO describes a geographical indication as a sign used in relation to products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities and reputation essentially due to natural and human factors in the place of origin. These may be agricultural, traditional or industrial products of a specific area.
The system runs on the Geographical Indications (Registration and Protection) Act, 2020 and the Rules of the same year.
Four bodies, and only one of them is you
IPO sets out four roles, and knowing which one you occupy saves a wasted application.
| Role | Who it is |
|---|---|
| Owner | The State of Pakistan, the Federal Government |
| Registrant | A public body appointed by the Federal Government as custodian |
| Authorized User | Producers, processors, traders, exporters and others in the supply chain |
| Certification Body | Notified by the concerned Division, currently the Commerce Division |
The ownership of a GI lies with the Federal Government. A Registrant is the custodian on its behalf, responsible for preparing the Book of Specification in consultation with stakeholders, registering it with IPO, applying in foreign countries, recommending Authorized Users, and ensuring enforcement nationally and internationally.
If you grow, process, trade or export the product, you are an Authorized User. That is the door available to you.
How to become an Authorized User
IPO sets out the sequence, and it runs through the Registrant before it reaches the Registrar.
- Ask the Registrant for an assent.
- The Registrant shares the Book of Specification with you.
- Check your product complies, then submit an affidavit of compliance to the Registrant.
- The Registrant issues a written assent.
- Submit form GI-01 to the Registrar of GI with the assent and the Rs 1,000 fee.
The Registrar examines the application and publishes it in the GI Journal to invite opposition. If no opposition is received within two months of publication, the Registrar issues the certificate of Authorized User.
Once registered, you may use Pakistan's GI logo on your products, following the standard operating procedures in the relevant Book of Specification.
The Book of Specification is the real gatekeeper
Everything turns on that document. It is prepared by the Registrant in consultation with stakeholders and it defines what the product must be to carry the name.
You sign an affidavit that your product complies with it. That is not a formality. A certification body notified by the Commerce Division under section 13(1) of the Act certifies compliance with the Book of Specification for the purposes of trade and export.
So read the Book of Specification before you apply, not after. If your growing area, variety, processing method or packaging does not match it, the answer is to change the product or accept that you cannot use the name.
Registration of the GI itself has no fee and no opposition
This is a genuine oddity worth noting, and it shows who the system is built around.
At the first stage, the Registrant brings a completed GI-01 form, the Book of Specification and the Federal Government notification to the GI Registry and submits it to the Registrar. IPO states there is neither a fee for the registrant, nor any opposition process against the registrant.
The opposition process exists only at the second stage, against individual Authorized Users. The State's own registration of the GI is not open to challenge in the same way.
Foreign GIs, and Pakistani GIs abroad
A geographical indication of a foreign country is registered in Pakistan as a logo, as it is registered under the local legislation of its country of origin. IPO states that the title and date of the legislative or administrative provisions, or of judicial decisions, protecting the GI in the country of origin are considered when accepting a foreign application.
In the other direction, applying to register a Pakistani GI in foreign countries is listed among the Registrant's responsibilities, not the producer's. That matters, because protecting a Pakistani product abroad is a job for the custodian body rather than for an individual exporter.
Our report on the basmati ruling in Australia covers one of those overseas fights and what it actually settled.
How this differs from a trademark
People arrive at IPO wanting to register a regional product name and are often looking for the wrong instrument.
A trademark distinguishes one trader's goods from another's and belongs to that trader. A GI signals origin and belongs to the State, with many producers permitted to use it. You can own a trademark. You cannot own a GI.
Our guide to registering a trademark in Pakistan covers that route, and our guide to copyright registration covers written and creative work.
Common questions
Who owns a geographical indication in Pakistan?
The State of Pakistan. IPO states that ownership of a GI lies with the Federal Government.
What can a producer or exporter register as?
An Authorized User, on the recommendation of the Registrant, which allows use of Pakistan's GI logo.
What does it cost?
IPO states an official fee of Rs 1,000 for the Authorized User application. There is no fee for the registrant at the first stage.
How long does opposition take?
The application is published in the GI Journal, and if no opposition is received within two months the certificate is issued.
What is the Book of Specification?
The document defining what the product must be. You submit an affidavit that your product complies with it.
Which law governs it?
The Geographical Indications (Registration and Protection) Act, 2020 and its Rules of 2020.
Last checked and sources
Last checked 4 September 2026. We read the geographical indications pages published by the Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan at ipo.gov.pk on that date. The definition of a geographical indication as a sign used for products with a specific geographical origin possessing qualities and reputation essentially due to natural and human factors, the governing Geographical Indications (Registration and Protection) Act, 2020 and Rules, 2020, the four roles of State, Registrant, Authorized Users and Certification Body, the statement that the State of Pakistan is the ultimate owner of all GIs and that ownership lies with the Federal Government, the Registrant's responsibilities including preparing the Book of Specification, registering it with IPO, applying in foreign countries, recommending Authorized Users and ensuring enforcement, the notification of a certification body by the concerned Division, currently the Commerce Division, under section 13(1), the two stage registration process, the absence of any fee or opposition process against the registrant at the first stage, the Authorized User sequence of assent, Book of Specification, affidavit of compliance, written assent, form GI-01 and an official fee of Rs 1,000, publication in the GI Journal with a two month opposition window, and the treatment of foreign geographical indications, are all taken from those pages. We did not read the Act or the Rules themselves. Confirm the current fee and procedure with IPO-Pakistan before applying. Nothing here is legal advice.
About the author
Author
Fajr Riaz is a well-talented author at Pakera.pk with expertise in creative content creation/writing and storytelling. Fajr's strength lies in creating engaging articles, detailed guides, and straight narratives that connect with readers and give meaningful insights. With her accurate attention to detail and passion for writing, Fajr has established herself as a pivotal pillar at Pakera and is invaluable.
