Who owns the copyright in Pakistani stamps?

The Government of Pakistan. Pakistan's Copyright Ordinance, 1962 makes the government the first owner of a work made or published under its direction or control, and stamps fit that definition because Pakistan Post works under the government. That copyright lasts 50 years from the start of the year after issue.

Are Pakistani stamps free because their copyright was never registered?

Not on that argument alone. Wikimedia Commons' stamp tag argues that no copyright claim in a Pakistani stamp is known to have been registered, but its rules page still marks stamps Not OK and uses the tag only for stamps past the 50-year term. In the archive's reading, stamps issued in 1975 or earlier are public domain in 2026.

Pakistan

Are Pakistan stamps public domain?

Pakistani stamps issued in 1975 or earlier are public domain in 2026, in the archive's reading of Wikimedia Commons, which treats stamps as government works owned by the Government of Pakistan. Copyright in them lasts 50 years from the start of the year after issue, so the line moves forward one year each January.

Why 1975?

Pakistan's Copyright Ordinance, 1962, as amended in 2000, defines a government work as one made or published under the direction or control of the government, makes the government its first owner, and protects it until 50 years from the beginning of the year after first publication. Commons says stamps fit that definition because Pakistan Post works under the government.¹ In the archive's reading, a stamp issued in 1975 was protected through 2025 and became free on January 1, 2026. Commons' stamp tag adds a broader argument, that no copyright claim in a stamp is known to have been registered. The territory page still marks stamps Not OK and keeps the tag for stamps whose term has expired.¹²

Postal history and copyright

Pakistan was established on August 14, 1947, when British India was partitioned, and East Pakistan separated as Bangladesh in 1971.¹ British Indian stamps stayed in use at first. Pakistan's first stamps, on October 1, 1947, were British Indian King George VI stamps overprinted "Pakistan" at Nasik, and its first stamps of its own design followed in July 1948, printed by De La Rue in London.³ Commons' note does not say whether the Nasik overprints, whose designs are British Indian, fall under Pakistani law, so the question is open. In the archive's reading they are past the 50-year term either way.

References 3

↑ Copyright rules for Pakistan. Wikimedia Commons, June 4, 2023. Accessed October 8, 2026.
↑ Wikimedia Commons license tag (Pakistan). Wikimedia Commons, February 5, 2024. Accessed October 8, 2026.
↑ Postage stamps and postal history of Pakistan. Wikipedia, April 30, 2026. Accessed October 8, 2026.

Copyright law in Pakistan

Pakistan’s own stamps follow the rule below. The historical issuers named here are read under the country’s general copyright law. A design answers Likely yes or Likely no only when every term that could apply agrees, and Unclear when they disagree.

Named designer: 50 years after the designer’s death
Anonymous: 50 years from issue
Work of the state: 50 years from issue
Note: Pakistani stamps are government works owned by the Government of Pakistan.

Historical issuers read under this law: Bahawalpur, Jammu and Kashmir, Las Bela, Poonch, Scinde.

Read from Wikimedia Commons, copyright rules for Pakistan, revision 770836537, checked October 8, 2026

The rule by period

PeriodRule

Any datePublic domain 50 years after the end of the year of issue.In the archive's reading, a stamp becomes free on January 1 of the 51st year after its year of issue.

Pakistan stamps and the public domain: questions

Are Pakistani stamps public domain?: It depends on the date. In the archive's reading, Pakistani stamps are government works protected for 50 years from the start of the year after issue, so those issued in 1975 or earlier are public domain in 2026. The line moves forward one year each January.
Who owns the copyright in Pakistani stamps?: The Government of Pakistan. Pakistan's Copyright Ordinance, 1962 makes the government the first owner of a work made or published under its direction or control, and stamps fit that definition because Pakistan Post works under the government. That copyright lasts 50 years from the start of the year after issue.
Are the 1947 Pakistan overprints public domain?: Yes, in the archive's reading, because they are past the 50-year term either way. Pakistan's first stamps, on October 1, 1947, were British Indian King George VI stamps overprinted "Pakistan" at Nasik, and whether their British Indian designs fall under Pakistani law is an open question.
Are Pakistani stamps free because their copyright was never registered?: Not on that argument alone. Wikimedia Commons' stamp tag argues that no copyright claim in a Pakistani stamp is known to have been registered, but its rules page still marks stamps Not OK and uses the tag only for stamps past the 50-year term. In the archive's reading, stamps issued in 1975 or earlier are public domain in 2026.