How to Register a Partnership Firm in Punjab: Rs 100 Fee and Form 1
Register a partnership firm in Punjab: the Rs 100 fee, Form 1, the stamp paper deed, who can witness it, the online portal, and why an unregistered firm loses.
To register a partnership firm in Punjab, all partners sign Form 1 and a partnership deed on stamp paper, have them attested, pay the Rs 100 filing fee by bank challan, and file with the Registrar of Firms. Punjab also takes firm registration online through its Business Registration Portal.
The Rs 100 fee is printed on Form 1 itself, which we downloaded from the Punjab Industries, Commerce and Investment Department on 2 October 2026. The Directorate General of Industries lists the papers on its firm registration page: the deed on Rs 1,000 stamp paper, the Rs 100 challan, partners' CNIC copies, notarised documents and the signed Form 1.
Registration is optional under the law. Skipping it is still a costly mistake, for one reason explained below.
An unregistered firm cannot sue to recover its money
Section 69 of the Partnership Act, 1932 says an unregistered firm cannot file a court case against an outsider to enforce a contract. A partner suing the firm or the other partners faces the same bar.
In plain terms: if a customer refuses to pay an invoice, an unregistered firm may have no case in court. That single rule is the main practical reason to register.
There is a small exception for claims of Rs 100 or less, which is no help to any real business. Registration does not need to happen on the first day. Section 58 says a firm may register "at any time". The sooner, the safer.
The Registrar of Firms needs six particulars
Section 58 asks for the firm's name, its principal place of business, any other places of business, the date each partner joined, each partner's full name and permanent address, and its duration. All partners, or agents they authorise, must sign the statement.
You file with the Registrar for the area where any place of business of the firm is, or will be. Form 1 is the official statement. It has one row per partner and a declaration that each partner signs.
Some firm names are not allowed. Section 58(3) bars words that suggest government approval, and the words "Jinnah" or "Quaid-e-Azam", without the provincial government's written consent. Names of the United Nations or the World Health Organization also need their written permission.
| What the Directorate lists | Detail |
|---|---|
| Partnership deed | On stamp paper of Rs 1,000 |
| Filing fee | Rs 100 by bank challan |
| Identity | Copies of every partner's CNIC |
| Attestation | Documents attested by a notary public |
| Form 1 | Signed by all partners before a qualified witness |
How to register your partnership firm, step by step
Write and stamp the deed first, then fill Form 1, get signatures witnessed and documents notarised, pay the challan, and file with the Registrar. Plan one meeting where every partner is present with an original CNIC.
- Agree the deed terms: names, capital, profit shares, duties and how a partner can leave.
- Print the deed on stamp paper. You can issue an e-stamp paper online in Punjab.
- Fill Form 1 with the firm's name, places of business, each partner's details and the firm's duration.
- Have all partners sign Form 1 before a witness who is a gazetted officer, advocate, attorney, pleader or honorary magistrate.
- Get the documents attested by a notary public.
- Pay Rs 100 through the bank challan and keep the receipt.
- File the set with the Registrar of Firms, or apply on the Business Registration Portal.
The witness rule is printed at the foot of Form 1. A witness who is simply a friend or relative does not meet it. If you also need an affidavit for a bank or landlord, an oath commissioner or notary in Punjab can attest it in the same visit.
Punjab's online portal and the fee we could not confirm
The Punjab Information Technology Board says its Business Registration Portal handles partnership firm registration for the Industries Department. The portal's login page at register.business.punjab.gov.pk opened for us on 2 October 2026 and offers a "New Registration" button.
We could not see the fee charged inside the portal without an account. The portal's guide page, on business.punjab.gov.pk, did not load for us on 2 October 2026. Some unofficial summaries quote a higher online fee than Rs 100. Neither the Directorate's page nor Form 1 says so, and we have not found it on a government page.
So treat Rs 100 as the fee the Directorate publishes, and check the amount on the challan the portal gives you. The portal's contact email is contact@business.punjab.gov.pk.
Lying on the form is a crime. Section 70 punishes anyone who signs a statement with particulars they know are false or incomplete with up to three months in jail, a fine, or both.
Changes after registration cost Rs 50 each
The Directorate lists a Rs 50 challan for each later change: a new name or main address, another place of business, a partner's new address, a partner joining or leaving, or dissolution. Forms 2 to 6 cover these.
A change of partners needs a new deed on Rs 500 stamp paper and a public notice. Dissolving the firm needs a dissolution deed on Rs 250 stamp paper, a public notice and the partners' consent.
A registered firm is not a company. Under section 25, every partner is liable, jointly and severally, for the firm's acts. If you want limited liability, the route is registering a company with SECP. Either way, the firm will need its own tax number, and the steps to get an NTN number come next.
Common questions
Is registering a partnership firm compulsory in Punjab?
No. The law says a firm may register at any time. But an unregistered firm cannot sue an outsider to enforce a contract, under section 69.
What is the fee to register a partnership firm in Punjab?
Form 1 and the Directorate of Industries list a Rs 100 filing fee, paid by bank challan. Stamp paper for the deed is extra.
Where do I file the registration?
With the Registrar of Firms for the area where your firm does business, or online through Punjab's Business Registration Portal.
Who can witness Form 1?
A gazetted officer, advocate, attorney, pleader or honorary magistrate, as printed on Form 1.
Can I use "Quaid-e-Azam" in my firm's name?
Not without the provincial government's written consent. The same applies to words suggesting government approval.
How much does it cost to add or remove a partner?
A Rs 50 challan, a new deed on Rs 500 stamp paper and a public notice, as the Directorate lists them.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 2 October 2026. We read the Directorate General of Industries Punjab firm registration page, Form 1 from the Industries, Commerce and Investment Department forms page, PITB's Business Registration Portal page, the portal's login page, and sections 58, 59, 69 and 70 of the Partnership Act, 1932 in the Punjab Code. The online portal's own fee could not be seen without an account, and its guide page did not load for us.
About the author
Tax, Bills and Technology Writer
Ali Akhtar is a young and curious voice here at Pakistan Era. He is currently pursuing his A-Levels and has a growing interest in Pakistan’s changing industrial landscape and educational trends. Ali likes to write in a way that helps him explain and explore the world around him. His writing reflects the perspective of the new generation navigating the evolving trends of Pakistan where technology, youth innovation, and shifting opportunities are reshaping the country’s future.
