Trademark Classes in Pakistan: Full NICE Classification Guide

Filing a trademark application means more than picking a name or logo — you also have to tell IPO Pakistan exactly which goods or services that mark will cover. That’s what a trademark class does. It’s the category, under an internationally shared system, that defines the specific scope of your legal protection.

Get the class wrong, and you can end up with a registered mark that doesn’t actually cover your product or service — technically valid, practically useless. This page lists all 45 trademark classes recognised in Pakistan, along with the goods and services each one covers, so you can identify the right class (or classes) before you file.

CLASSGOODS
1Chemicals for use in industry, science and photography, as well as in agriculture, horticulture and forestry; unprocessed artificial resins, unprocessed plastics; fire extinguishing and fire prevention compositions; tempering and soldering preparations; substances for tanning animal skins and hides; adhesives for use in industry; putties and other paste fillers; compost, manures, fertilizers; biological preparations for use in industry and science.
2Paints, varnishes, lacquers; preservatives against rust and against deterioration of wood; colorants, dyes; inks for printing, marking and engraving; raw natural resins; metals in foil and powder form for use in painting, decorating, printing and art.
3Non-medicated cosmetics and toiletry preparations; non-medicated dentifrices; perfumery, essential oils; bleaching preparations and other substances for laundry use; cleaning, polishing and abrasive preparations.
4Industrial oils and greases, wax; lubricants; dust absorbing, wetting and binding compositions; fuels and illuminants; candles and wicks for lighting.
5Pharmaceuticals, medical and veterinary preparations; sanitary preparations for medical purposes; dietetic food and substances adapted for medical or veterinary use, food for babies; dietary supplements for human beings and animals; plasters, materials for dressings; material for stopping teeth, dental wax; disinfectants; preparations for destroying vermin; fungicides, herbicides.
6Common metals and their alloys, ores; metal materials for building and construction; transportable buildings of metal; non-electric cables and wires of common metal; small items of metal hardware; metal containers for storage or transport; safes.
7Machines, machine tools, power-operated tools; motors and engines, except for land vehicles; machine coupling and transmission components, except for land vehicles; agricultural implements, other than hand-operated hand tools; incubators for eggs; automatic vending machines.
8Hand tools and implements, hand-operated; cutlery; side arms, except firearms; razors.
9Scientific, research, navigation, surveying, photographic, cinematographic, audiovisual, optical, weighing, measuring, signalling, detecting, testing, inspecting, life-saving and teaching apparatus and instruments; apparatus and instruments for conducting, switching, transforming, accumulating, regulating or controlling the distribution or use of electricity; apparatus and instruments for recording, transmitting, reproducing or processing sound, images or data; recorded and downloadable media, computer software, blank digital or analogue recording and storage media; mechanisms for coin-operated apparatus; cash registers, calculating devices; computers and computer peripheral devices; diving suits, divers’ masks, ear plugs for divers, nose clips for divers and swimmers, gloves for divers, breathing apparatus for underwater swimming; fire-extinguishing apparatus.
10Surgical, medical, dental and veterinary apparatus and instruments; artificial limbs, eyes and teeth; orthopaedic articles; suture materials; therapeutic and assistive devices adapted for persons with disabilities; massage apparatus; apparatus, devices and articles for nursing infants; sexual activity apparatus, devices and articles.
11Apparatus and installations for lighting, heating, cooling, steam generating, cooking, drying, ventilating, water supply and sanitary purposes.
12Vehicles; apparatus for locomotion by land, air or water.
13Firearms; ammunition and projectiles; explosives; fireworks.
14Precious metals and their alloys; jewellery, precious and semi-precious stones; horological and chronometric instruments.
15Musical instruments; music stands and stands for musical instruments; conductors’ batons.
16Paper and cardboard; printed matter; bookbinding material; photographs; stationery and office requisites, except furniture; adhesives for stationery or household purposes; drawing materials and materials for artists; paintbrushes; instructional and teaching materials; plastic sheets, films and bags for wrapping and packaging; printers’ type, printing blocks.
17Unprocessed and semi-processed rubber, gutta-percha, gum, asbestos, mica and substitutes for all these materials; plastics and resins in extruded form for use in manufacture; packing, stopping and insulating materials; flexible pipes, tubes and hoses, not of metal.
18Leather and imitations of leather; animal skins and hides; luggage and carrying bags; umbrellas and parasols; walking sticks; whips, harness and saddlery; collars, leashes and clothing for animals.
19Materials, not of metal, for building and construction; rigid pipes, not of metal, for building; asphalt, pitch, tar and bitumen; transportable buildings, not of metal; monuments, not of metal.
20Furniture, mirrors, picture frames; containers, not of metal, for storage or transport; unworked or semi-worked bone, horn, whalebone or mother-of-pearl; shells; meerschaum; yellow amber.
21Household or kitchen utensils and containers; cookware and tableware, except forks, knives and spoons; combs and sponges; brushes, except paintbrushes; brush-making materials; articles for cleaning purposes; unworked or semi-worked glass, except building glass; glassware, porcelain and earthenware.
22Ropes and string; nets; tents and tarpaulins; awnings of textile or synthetic materials; sails; sacks for the transport and storage of materials in bulk; padding, cushioning and stuffing materials, except of paper, cardboard, rubber or plastics; raw fibrous textile materials and substitutes therefor.
23Yarns and threads for textile use.
24Textiles and substitutes for textiles; household linen; curtains of textile or plastic.
25Clothing, footwear, headwear.
26Lace, braid and embroidery, and haberdashery ribbons and bows; buttons, hooks and eyes, pins and needles; artificial flowers; hair decorations; false hair.
27Carpets, rugs, mats and matting, linoleum and other materials for covering existing floors; wall hangings, not of textile.
28Games, toys and playthings; video game apparatus; gymnastic and sporting articles; decorations for Christmas trees.
29Meat, fish, poultry and game; meat extracts; preserved, frozen, dried and cooked fruits and vegetables; jellies, jams, compotes; eggs; milk, cheese, butter, yogurt and other milk products; oils and fats for food.
30Coffee, tea, cocoa and substitutes therefor; rice, pasta and noodles; tapioca and sago; flour and preparations made from cereals; bread, pastries and confectionery; chocolate; ice cream, sorbets and other edible ices; sugar, honey, treacle; yeast, baking powder; salt, seasonings, spices, preserved herbs; vinegar, sauces and other condiments; ice (frozen water).
31Raw and unprocessed agricultural, aquacultural, horticultural and forestry products; raw and unprocessed grains and seeds; fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh herbs; natural plants and flowers; bulbs, seedlings and seeds for planting; live animals; foodstuffs and beverages for animals; malt.
32Beers; non-alcoholic beverages; mineral and aerated waters; fruit beverages and fruit juices; syrups and other preparations for making non-alcoholic beverages.
33Alcoholic beverages, except beers; alcoholic preparations for making beverages.
34Tobacco and tobacco substitutes; cigarettes and cigars; electronic cigarettes and oral vaporizers for smokers; smokers’ articles; matches.
 
 
CLASSSERVICES
35Advertising; business management, organization and administration; office functions.
36Financial, monetary and banking services; insurance services; real estate services.
37Construction services; installation and repair services; mining extraction, oil and gas drilling.
38Telecommunications services.
39Transport; packaging and storage of goods; travel arrangement.
40Treatment of materials; recycling of waste and trash; air purification and treatment of water; printing services; food and drink preservation.
41Education; providing of training; entertainment; sporting and cultural activities.
42Scientific and technological services and research and design relating thereto; industrial analysis, industrial research and industrial design services; quality control and authentication services; design and development of computer hardware and software.
43Services for providing food and drink; temporary accommodation.
44Medical services; veterinary services; hygienic and beauty care for human beings or animals; agriculture, aquaculture, horticulture and forestry services.
45Legal services; security services for the physical protection of tangible property and individuals; dating services, online social networking services; funerary services; babysitting.

What Is a Trademark Class?

A trademark class is a category used to group similar goods or services for trademark registration. Rather than registering a mark in the abstract, an applicant registers it in connection with particular products or services — and the class is what defines that connection.

Pakistan uses the NICE Classification system, the same international standard followed by most trademark offices worldwide. Maintained under the Nice Agreement of 1957, it organises all commercial activity into 45 classes: classes 1–34 cover goods, and classes 35–45 cover services. Because Pakistan follows this shared framework, a class number generally means the same thing here as it does abroad — Class 25 is clothing, Class 43 is restaurant services, regardless of which country’s trademark office you’re filing with.

Why the Trademark Class You Choose Actually Matters

Registration under the Trademarks Ordinance 2001 is class-specific, not blanket. IPO Pakistan grants exclusive rights only for the class(es) named in your application — not for your brand name in general.

  • Scope of protection. A bakery registered under Class 30 has no trademark claim over the same name used by an unrelated electronics brand in Class 9 — different class, different market, no conflict.
  • Risk of gaps. A business that sells a physical product and offers a related service — say, software (Class 9) alongside IT consulting (Class 42) — leaves half its business unprotected if it registers only one class.
  • Cost. Each class generally requires its own application and its own government fee, so classification directly affects total filing cost.
  • Examination outcome. An overly broad or mismatched class is a common reason applications face objections during examination.

Pakistan Uses Single-Class Filing

This is a rule worth understanding before you file: Pakistan requires a separate application for each class. Unlike some jurisdictions that allow one multi-class filing, IPO Pakistan does not permit combining several classes into a single Form TM-1 submission. If your brand spans more than one class, you’ll be filing — and paying for — more than one application. This directly affects your total registration budget, so it’s worth planning your class list upfront rather than discovering the requirement mid-process.

Which Trademark Class Do You Need? (Common Examples for Pakistani Businesses)

A few quick reference points for businesses that don’t want to read the full 45-class list line by line:

  • Clothing or apparel brand → Class 25
  • Café or restaurant → Class 43
  • Skincare or cosmetics brand → Class 3
  • Software, mobile app, or SaaS product → Class 9 (the software itself) and often Class 42 (development/technology services)
  • Online store or e-commerce retail → Class 35
  • Marketing or business consultancy → Class 35
  • Training institute or academy → Class 41
  • Beauty salon or clinic → Class 44
  • Beverage brand (soft drinks, juices) → Class 32
  • Packaged food products → Class 29 or 30, depending on the specific product
  • Legal, security, or personal services → Class 45

If your business doesn’t cleanly match one of these, the full class list below — along with the explanatory notes — is the more precise reference point.

What If My Brand Needs Multiple Classes?

It’s common for a growing business to span more than one class. An IT startup building both a software product (Class 9) and offering development services (Class 42) needs both. A clothing label that also runs its own retail stores may need Class 25 alongside Class 35. A café that also sells packaged snacks under its own brand may need Class 43 alongside Class 29 or 30.

Filing multiple classes means a higher upfront cost, since each is a separate application — but it also means broader, gap-free protection. The alternative — registering narrowly now and discovering a gap later — often costs more in the long run, since it can mean a fresh application, a delayed filing date, and the risk that someone else has already claimed the class in between.

Common Classification Mistakes

  • Filing under the class that “sounds right” instead of the one that matches actual use. Class headings are broad category labels, not exact matches — the specific goods/services list within the class is what counts.
  • Registering only one class for a multi-line business, especially common for businesses that started with one product and expanded.
  • Copying a competitor’s class without verifying it fits your own goods or services. Two businesses that look similar on the surface can require different classes depending on exactly what they sell.
  • Assuming one class protects you from all related conflicts. Classes that are different but commercially related can still create a likelihood-of-confusion problem — for example, a mark in Class 25 (clothing) and a very similar mark in Class 35 (retail services for clothing) can still overlap in practice, even though they’re technically separate classes. This is one of the things a proper trademark search before filing is meant to catch — it isn’t only about checking your exact class, but related ones too.
  • Treating classification as a formality rather than a strategic decision. Getting the class list right the first time matters, since amending scope after filing is far more limited than defining it correctly at the outset.

Goods vs. Services: Understanding the Split

  • Classes 1–34 (Goods) cover tangible, manufactured, or produced items — from industrial chemicals and pharmaceuticals to clothing, food, and vehicles.
  • Classes 35–45 (Services) cover activities performed for others — advertising, education, financial services, medical care, legal services, and more.

A single brand can, and often does, need classes from both groups — a clothing manufacturer that also runs its own retail chain, for instance, may need both Class 25 (goods) and Class 35 (services) to cover manufacturing and retail sale separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a trademark class?

A trademark class is one of 45 categories under the NICE Classification system used to define the specific goods or services a trademark application covers.

How many trademark classes are there in Pakistan?

45 — Classes 1 to 34 cover goods, and Classes 35 to 45 cover services, following the same NICE Classification used internationally.

Can one trademark application cover more than one class?

No. Pakistan requires a separate application (and a separate fee) for each class. Multiple class applications for the same mark can be filed and processed around the same time, but they remain individual applications.

Can I add a class to my application after I’ve already filed it?

Generally no — if you need to cover an additional class, that requires a new, separate application rather than an amendment to the existing one. This is another reason it’s worth identifying your full class needs before filing rather than after.

What happens if I choose the wrong trademark class?

Your registration will only protect the class actually filed, not the class you intended — leaving your real goods or services unprotected and potentially requiring a fresh application later.

Does registering in one class protect my brand in a related class too?

Not automatically. Registration is specific to the class filed. That said, a mark in a closely related class can sometimes still create a conflict if it’s likely to confuse consumers — which is a separate legal question from classification itself.

How do I know which class my business falls under?

Match the class to the actual goods or services you provide, not just your general industry — the class descriptions in the list above are the same reference point IPO Pakistan uses during examination.


Need help identifying the right class — or classes — for your brand? Our trademark registration team can review your goods and services and confirm the correct classification before you file.

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