You've found a name you like, and now the search page is showing you .pk, .com.pk and .com all available. Which one do you pick? We answer this on WhatsApp a few times a day, and the honest answer is that it depends on who your customers are. Here's how we'd think it through.
The quick version
| .pk | .com.pk | .com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it signals | Pakistani brand | Pakistani company | International |
| Length | Shortest | Longer | Short |
| Name availability | Good | Good | Hard for short names |
| Minimum term | 2 years | 2 years | 1 year |
| Managed by | PKNIC | PKNIC | Verisign |
When to choose .pk
Plain .pk is what most new Pakistani brands go for now. It's short, easy to say over the phone and it looks modern. If you're a startup, an online store, a restaurant or a personal brand selling in Pakistan, .pk is a strong default.
There's a small catch: some people still type ".com" out of habit. If the .com of your name is owned by someone else, a few visitors may end up there. That's usually a reason to make your name distinctive, not a reason to avoid .pk.
When to choose .com.pk
.com.pk has been around longer and is the traditional choice for registered companies, banks and established businesses. If you're a company that wants to look established, or your industry tends to use .com.pk, it fits well.
The downside is length. "ourcompany.com.pk" is more to type, and on business cards it's longer. It's not a big deal, but it's worth saying the full address out loud before you decide.
When to choose .com
If most of your customers are outside Pakistan (software, export, freelancing services, content for a global audience), a .com is the better main domain. It's the most recognised extension in the world, and nobody needs to think about it.
The challenge with .com is finding a good name. Short, clear .com names were mostly registered years ago. You may have to compromise on the name, which is often worse than compromising on the extension.
Our recommendation
For a business that sells in Pakistan: register the .pk as your main domain, and if your budget allows, also grab the .com.pk so nobody else can take it. Point both at the same website.
For a business that sells abroad: make the .com your main domain, and register the .pk to protect your name locally.
Whichever you choose, use it consistently: on your signage, invoices, social profiles and email. Consistency matters more than the extension.
Other .pk extensions
There's also .net.pk (traditionally for networks and ISPs), .org.pk (for organisations and NGOs), .biz.pk and .web.pk. Educational institutions use .edu.pk and government bodies .gov.pk, and both of those are restricted. For most businesses, it's .pk or .com.pk.
Next steps
Check availability across all of them at once on the .pk domains page. If you're comparing costs, our guide to domain prices in Pakistan explains why .pk and .com are priced differently, and how to buy a .pk domain walks you through registration.
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