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Complete 2026 guide to all 45 Nice Classification classes in Pakistan. Detailed directory of Goods (Classes 1–34) and Services (Classes 35–45) with IPO tips.
By Syed Asad Hussain Zaidi · 8 September 2026
Author Note / Last Updated: Updated September 2026 by Syed Asad Hussain Zaidi | Advocate High Court | Senior Corporate & IP Advisory Counsel. In trademark law, a brand name is not protected in an abstract commercial vacuum. Under the Trade Marks Ordinance, 2001 and the international Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services, trademark protection is strictly compartmentalized into forty-five (45) distinct classes. Registering a trademark in the wrong class—or failing to file defensive applications across neighboring classes—is one of the most common and catastrophic errors made by Pakistani business owners. A luxury apparel house that registers its mark in Class 25 (clothing) but neglects Class 35 (retail store services) will discover to its horror that a competitor can legally open a retail boutique bearing the exact same brand name. Similarly, a software company registering in Class 9 (hardware) but omitting Class 42 (cloud hosting and SaaS) leaves its core technology exposed to copycats. This definitive guide provides an exhaustive, class-by-class directory of all 45 Nice Classification classes tailored to Pakistani commerce, dissecting goods versus services, highlighting high-frequency conflict zones, and outlining strategic specification rules. --- Statutory Architecture of Trademark Classification in Pakistan The legal framework governing trademark classification in Pakistan is anchored in: Section 12 of the Trade Marks Ordinance, 2001: Mandates that goods and services shall be classified according to the international classification system. Rule 12 of the Trade Marks Rules, 2004: Adopts the Nice Classification (12th Edition) published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The Principle of Specialty: A registered mark in Class 30 (tea) does not automatically prevent an independent third party from using the same name for Class 12 (motorcycles), unless the mark qualifies for enhanced protection as a "Well-Known Mark" under Section 86 of the Ordinance. --- Exhaustive Directory: Goods (Classes 1 to 34) Part I: Chemicals, Paints & Personal Care Products Class 1 (Chemicals & Industrial Raw Materials): Chemicals used in industry, science, agriculture, horticulture, and forestry; unprocessed plastics, artificial resins; biological fertilizers; chemical soil conditioners. Pakistani Context:* Crucial for industrial chemical distributors in Faisalabad and Karachi, fertilizer manufacturers (Engro, Fauji), and textile dyes. Class 2 (Paints, Varnishes & Anti-Corrosion): Paints, varnishes, lacquers; preservatives against rust and wood deterioration; colorants, mordants; raw natural resins; foil metals for painters. Pakistani Context:* Core sector for architectural coating brands (Berger, Brighto, Master Paints). Class 3 (Cosmetics, Soaps, Perfumes & Cleaning): Non-medicated cosmetics and toiletry preparations; perfumes, essential oils; bleaching preparations and laundry detergents; soaps and cleaning powders. Pakistani Context:* High litigation volume. Spans luxury fragrances (J., Khaadi), skincare, and mass laundry bars (Sufi, Wheel). Class 4 (Industrial Oils, Fuels & Illuminants): Industrial oils and greases; lubricants; dust absorbing compositions; motor fuels (petrol, diesel, CNG), illuminating oils, and candles. Pakistani Context:* Petroleum marketing companies (PSO, Shell, Total Parco) and industrial grease manufacturers. Part II: Pharmaceuticals, Metals, Machinery & Hardware Class 5 (Pharmaceuticals, Dietary Supplements & Herbal Medicine): Pharmaceuticals, medical preparations; sanitary preparations for medical purposes; dietetic foods and nutraceuticals; baby foods; disinfectants; veterinary preparations. Pakistani Context:* Highest volume class at IPO-Pakistan. Covers DRAP-regulated allopathic drugs, nutraceutical syrups, and traditional Unani / Tibb herbal remedies (Hamdard, Qarshi). Class 6 (Common Metals & Hardware Alloys): Common metals and their alloys; metal building materials; transportable buildings of metal; non-electric cables and metal wires; small metal hardware; metal pipes, safes. Pakistani Context:* Steel rebar mills (Mughal, Amreli), aluminum fabricators, and metal lock manufacturers. Class 7 (Machinery, Motors & Power Tools): Machines, machine tools, power-operated tools; motors and engines (except for land vehicles); agricultural implements; incubators for eggs; automatic vending machines. Pakistani Context:* Industrial textile looms, agricultural tube-well pumps, wheat threshers in Punjab, and electric generators. Class 8 (Hand Tools, Cutlery & Implements): Hand tools and hand-operated implements; cutlery, side arms, razors. Pakistani Context:* Vital for Sialkot's surgical instrument and cutlery export corridor. Part III: Electronics, Lighting, Vehicles & Luxury Goods Class 9 (Electronics, Computers, Hardware & Software): Scientific, research, navigation, audio-visual, optical, measuring instruments; downloadable computer software and mobile apps; computers, smartphones, peripheral devices; smart cards; fire-extinguishing apparatus. Pakistani Context:* Covers consumer electronics (QMobile, Infinix distributors), smart meters, solar inverters, and downloadable mobile apps. Class 10 (Medical, Dental & Surgical Devices): Surgical, medical, dental, and veterinary apparatus and instruments; artificial limbs, eyes, and teeth; orthopedic articles; suture materials; therapeutic and diagnostic devices. Pakistani Context:* Sialkot surgical cluster flagship class. Also covers diagnostic monitors, hospital beds, and surgical gloves. Class 11 (Lighting, Heating & Appliances): Apparatus and installations for lighting, heating, cooling, steam generating, cooking, drying, ventilating, and water supply. Pakistani Context:* Major home appliance manufacturers in Gujranwala and Lahore (Dawlance, Haier, Pel, Orient fans). Class 12 (Vehicles & Transportation): Vehicles; apparatus for locomotion by land, air, or water; automobiles, motorcycles, auto-rickshaws, bicycles, automotive parts. Pakistani Context:* Massive commercial importance (Pak Suzuki, Atlas Honda, Indus Motor, roadside rickshaw builders). Class 13 (Firearms, Ammunition & Explosives): Firearms; ammunition and projectiles; explosives; fireworks. Pakistani Context:* Defense manufacturing (POF Wah) and licensed hunting firearm fabricators in Peshawar and Darra Adam Khel. Class 14 (Precious Metals, Jewelry & Horology): Precious metals and alloys; jewelry, precious stones; horological and chronometric instruments (watches, clocks). Pakistani Context:* Sarafa bazaar gold jewelers, luxury fashion jewelry, and watch retailers. Class 15 (Musical Instruments): Musical instruments; music stands, batons, tuners. Part IV: Paper, Packaging, Rubber, Building Materials & Furniture Class 16 (Paper, Cardboard, Printed Matter & Stationery): Paper and cardboard; printed publications, books, magazines; stationery, adhesives for stationery; drawing materials, paintbrushes; plastic materials for packaging. Pakistani Context:* Book publishers in Urdu Bazaar (Lahore/Karachi), school stationery brands (Piano, Deer), and commercial packaging boxes. Class 17 (Rubber, Plastics, Insulation & Hoses): Unprocessed and semi-processed rubber, gutta-percha, asbestos; plastics in extruded form for manufacture; packing, stopping, and insulating materials; flexible hoses. Pakistani Context:* PVC pipes (Popular, Dadex), electrical insulation tape, and industrial rubber gaskets. Class 18 (Leather Goods, Luggage & Bags): Leather and imitations of leather; animal skins; trunks and travelling bags; umbrellas; walking sticks; saddlery, collars, and leashes. Pakistani Context:* Sialkot and Kasur leather export cluster (handbags, luggage, leather jackets, wallets). Class 19 (Non-Metallic Building Materials): Non-metallic building materials; rigid pipes for building; asphalt, pitch, and bitumen; non-metallic transportable buildings; monuments of stone. Pakistani Context:* Cement manufacturers (Lucky, Bestway, DG Khan), ceramic tiles, and construction marble. Class 20 (Furniture, Mirrors & Mattresses): Furniture, mirrors, picture frames; non-metallic containers; unworked or semi-worked bone, horn, or mother-of-pearl. Pakistani Context:* Gujrat and Chiniot furniture clusters, foam and mattress manufacturers (Master MoltyFoam, Diamond Supreme). Class 21 (Household Utensils, Glassware & Kitchenware): Household or kitchen utensils and containers; cookware and tableware; combs and sponges; glassware, porcelain, and earthenware. Pakistani Context:* Gujranwala aluminum pressure cookers, crockery sets, and commercial glassware. Class 22 (Ropes, Sails, Tents & Tarpaulins): Ropes and string; nets; tents and tarpaulins; sacks for the transport and storage of materials in bulk; raw fibrous textile materials. Class 23 (Yarns and Threads for Textile Use): Yarns and threads for textile use. Pakistani Context:* Spinning mills across Faisalabad, Multan, and Karachi. Part V: Textiles, Fashion, FMCG Foods, Agriculture & Tobacco Class 24 (Fabrics & Textile Goods): Textiles and substitutes for textiles; household linen; curtains of textile or plastic; bedsheets, blankets, towels. Pakistani Context:* The bedrock of Pakistan's retail and export economy: designer lawn fabrics, unstitched suitings, bedsheets, and towels. Class 25 (Clothing, Footwear & Headgear): Clothing, footwear, headgear; ready-to-wear shirts, trousers, suits, abayas, shoes, boots, sneakers. Pakistani Context:* Highest volume fashion class (Sapphire, Gul Ahmed, Sana Safinaz, Servis, Bata, Borjan). Class 26 (Lace, Ribbons, Buttons & Embroidery): Lace, braids, and embroidery; ribbons and bow buttons; hooks and eyes, pins, and needles; artificial flowers; hair decorations. Pakistani Context:* Zari, lace, and embroidery embellishments for bridal wear. Class 27 (Carpets, Rugs & Floor Coverings): Carpets, rugs, mats, and matting; linoleum and other materials for covering existing floors; wall hangings. Pakistani Context:* Hand-knotted Pakistani carpets exported worldwide. Class 28 (Games, Toys & Sporting Goods): Games, toys, and playthings; video game apparatus; gymnastic and sporting articles; decorations for Christmas trees. Pakistani Context:* World-famous Sialkot footballs (FIFA World Cup balls), cricket bats, boxing gloves, and field hockey sticks. Class 29 (Meat, Fish, Poultry & Dairy): Meat, 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; edible oils and fats. Pakistani Context:* Dairy giants (Nestlé Milkpak, Olper's, Engro), cooking oil and banaspati ghee (Dalda, Habib, Sufi), and packaged meats (K&N's). Class 30 (Coffee, Tea, Spices, Flour, Rice & Confectionery): Coffee, tea, cocoa; rice, pasta, noodles; tapioca and sago; flour and preparations made from cereals; bread, pastries, and confectionery; chocolate; ice cream; sugar, honey; yeast, baking-powder; salt; seasonings, spices; vinegar. Pakistani Context:* Massive FMCG sector: Basmati Rice, Tea (Lipton, Tapal), Spices (Shan, National Foods), Biscuits (LU, English Biscuit Manufacturers - Peek Freans). Class 31 (Raw Agriculture, Seeds & Fresh Produce): Raw and unprocessed agricultural, aquacultural, horticultural, and forestry products; raw and unprocessed grains and seeds; fresh fruits and vegetables; natural plants and flowers; foodstuffs for animals. Pakistani Context:* Sindhri mangoes, Kinnow mandarins, poultry feed, and hybrid crop seeds. Class 32 (Beers, Mineral Waters, Juices & Soft Drinks): Beers; non-alcoholic beverages; mineral and aerated waters; fruit beverages and fruit juices; syrups and other non-alcoholic preparations for making beverages. Pakistani Context:* Bottled mineral water (Aquafina, Kinley, Gourmet), carbonated soft drinks, and traditional fruit squashes (Rooh Afza, Jam-e-Shirin). Class 33 (Alcoholic Beverages): Alcoholic beverages (except beers); wine, spirits, and liqueurs. Pakistani Context:* Heavily restricted in domestic commerce; relevant for licensed manufacturers (Murree Brewery) and export portfolios. Class 34 (Tobacco & Smokers' Articles): Tobacco and tobacco substitutes; cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos; electronic cigarettes and oral vaporizers; smokers' articles; matches. Pakistani Context:* Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC), Philip Morris Pakistan, and booming disposable vape brands. --- Exhaustive Directory: Services (Classes 35 to 45) Class 35 (Advertising, Business Management & Retail Services): Advertising; business management, organization, and administration; office functions; retail and wholesale store services; online retail marketplace services. Pakistani Context:* The universal service class. Every retailer (Daraz, retail supermarkets, brick-and-mortar clothing stores, digital agencies) must file here. Class 36 (Banking, Financial, Insurance & Real Estate): Financial, monetary, and banking services; insurance services; real estate affairs. Pakistani Context:* Commercial banks (HBL, Meezan, MCB), FinTech / microfinance wallets (JazzCash, Easypaisa, Nayapay, Sadapay), and real estate developers (Bahria Town, DHA). Class 37 (Construction, Installation & Repair Services): Construction services; installation, maintenance, and repair services; mining extraction, oil and gas drilling. Pakistani Context:* Construction contractors, civil infrastructure developers, HVAC installation services, and auto repair networks. Class 38 (Telecommunications): Telecommunications services; transmission of electronic mail, messages, and video; broadcasting; cellular network services; internet service provision. Pakistani Context:* Telecom operators (Jazz, Telenor, Zong, Ufone, PTCL, Nayatel). Class 39 (Transport, Logistics & Packaging Storage): Transport; packaging and storage of goods; travel arrangement; courier services; freight forwarding; warehousing. Pakistani Context:* Logistics hubs (TCS, Leopards Courier, Trax, Daewoo Express, maritime clearing agents). Class 40 (Treatment of Materials & Custom Manufacturing): Treatment of materials; custom manufacturing of goods; recycling of waste; textile dyeing and printing; metal plating. Pakistani Context:* Commission-based textile dying units in Faisalabad, steel heat treatment, and custom toll manufacturing. Class 41 (Education, Training, Entertainment & Sporting): Education; providing of training; entertainment; sporting and cultural activities; publishing of books; film and television production. Pakistani Context:* Private school networks (Beaconhouse, City School), universities (LUMS, NUST), cricket leagues (PSL franchises), and media channels (Geo, ARY, Hum TV). Class 42 (Scientific, Technological, Software & SaaS Services): Scientific and technological services and research; industrial design; quality control; design and development of computer hardware and software; cloud computing; Software-as-a-Service (SaaS); hosting platforms. Pakistani Context:* Pakistan's multi-billion dollar IT export sector. Systems Limited, NetSol, 10Pearls, venture-backed SaaS startups. Class 43 (Hospitality, Restaurants & Temporary Accommodation): Services for providing food and drink; temporary accommodation; restaurants, cafes, fast-food outlets, catering; hotels, motels, guest houses. Pakistani Context:* Booming hospitality sector (KFC, McDonald's franchises, Salt'n Pepper, Monal, Pearl Continental, Serena Hotels). Class 44 (Medical, Veterinary & Beauty Care Services): Medical services; veterinary services; hygienic and beauty care for human beings or animals; agriculture, horticulture, and forestry services. Pakistani Context:* Hospital networks (Shaukat Khanum, Aga Khan, Chughtai Lab), beauty salons, and dermatology clinics. Class 45 (Legal, Security & Personal Services): Legal services; security services for the physical protection of tangible property and individuals; personal and social services rendered by others to meet the needs of individuals (e.g., matrimonial bureaus, investigation agencies). Pakistani Context:* Law firms, corporate compliance agencies, security guard companies (G4S, Phoenix), and investigation agencies. --- The Four Most Dangerous Classification Traps in Pakistan Filing in the wrong class will either cause your application to be rejected by the Registrar or leave your business completely defenseless against copycats. Beware of these recurring industry pitfalls: Trap 1: The Fashion Retail Dilemma (Class 25 vs. Class 35) Clothing manufacturers frequently believe that obtaining a registration in Class 25 (Clothing) shields their brand completely. It does not. Class 25 covers the physical garments. If you open a flagship boutique or an e-commerce website selling those garments, your retail activity is classified under Class 35 (Retail store services featuring clothing). Sophisticated brand pirates regularly monitor Class 25 filings and register the identical name in Class 35 to open copycat outlets. Best Practice: Always file Class 25 and Class 35 concurrently. Trap 2: The Tech & SaaS Conundrum (Class 9 vs. Class 42) Tech startups frequently ask whether software belongs to Class 9 or Class 42: If a customer downloads an app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store onto their device, that downloadable software is a good falling into Class 9. If a customer logs into a web dashboard to access a hosted platform without downloading binary files (Cloud Computing / SaaS), that is a service falling into Class 42. Best Practice: Modern tech companies must register in both Class 9 and Class 42, adding Class 35 for their digital marketplace activities. --- Overcoming the "Vague Specification" Rejection under Rule 12 Under historical practice decades ago, applicants routinely claimed "all goods included in this class" or the entire class heading. REGULATORY WARNING: The Trade Marks Registry of Pakistan now strictly enforces Rule 12 of the Trade Marks Rules, 2004. Examiners issue immediate TM-9 show-cause notices against applications that claim overly broad, generic class headings. How to Draft Compliant Goods Specifications: Incorrect (Will be Rejected): "All goods included in Class 30." Correct (Will be Accepted): "Rice, basmati rice, spices, turmeric, red chili powder, wheat flour, bakery confectionery, biscuits, tea, and seasonings, all being goods included in Class 30." Providing a specific, tailored schedule of goods expedites examination, avoids unnecessary prior-art citations from unrelated sub-industries, and protects your registration against Section 38 non-use cancellation actions. --- Strategic Multi-Class Filing Checklist for Pakistani Businesses Before lodging your application via the IPO-Pakistan E-Filing Portal or in paper format at the registry counters, verify your classification strategy against this checklist: [ ] Identify Core vs. Ancillary Classes: Pinpoint your primary revenue engine (e.g., Class 25 for clothes) and identify defensive perimeter classes (Class 35 retail, Class 18 leather accessories). [ ] Audit Potential Cross-Class Conflicts: Review whether your proposed word mark conflicts with famous brands in related classes (e.g., Class 32 soft drinks vs. Class 30 tea/coffee). [ ] Draft Specific, Concrete Specifications: Avoid copy-pasting entire class headings; tailor terms to match your actual product catalog and three-year commercial roadmap. [ ] Verify E-Filing Fee Multipliers: Official government fees in Pakistan are levied per class. Budget Rs. 3,000/- per class for Form TM-1 application fees (plus search fees). [ ] Conduct Class-Specific Searches: Execute Form TM-55 official searches across all target classes before filing to confirm zero prior citations exist. --- Conclusion: Engineering a Flawless Classification Defense A trademark registration is only as strong as the classes in which it is anchored. By understanding the intricate boundaries of the Nice Classification system, avoiding common cross-class traps, and drafting precise specifications of goods and services, enterprises can construct an unassailable brand fortress across Pakistan. For comprehensive trademark searches, multi-class filing strategies, and classification audits across all 45 Nice classes, contact our IP Strategy & Prosecution Practice Group at TaxCalc.pk / Zaidi & Associates.