EDU.PK Domains Explained: Who Can Register One in Pakistan and How to Do It

An .edu.PK domain tells anyone who visits your website one thing immediately: your institution is a recognized educational body in Pakistan. 

It carries credibility that a .com or a generic .pk domain cannot match for schools, colleges, and universities.

The catch is that .edu.pk is a restricted domain. You cannot register one as an individual, a private tutor, or a commercial business.

Only verified educational institutions qualify. 

This guide explains exactly who can apply, what documents you need, how the registration process works, and what it costs.

Who Can Register an .EDU.PK Domain?

PKNIC, Pakistan’s Network Information Centre, controls .pk domain registrations.

They restrict .edu.pk to institutions that can prove government registration or recognized affiliation with an educational authority.

The following institutions are eligible to apply:

• Universities and degree-awarding institutions recognized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC)
• Colleges affiliated with a recognized university or Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE)
• Government and private schools registered with a provincial education department
• Technical and vocational institutes registered with TEVTA or equivalent bodies
• Government educational departments, agencies, and bodies

The following cannot register an .edu.pk Domain:

Not eligible	Why
Individual educators and private tutors	No institutional registration or government affiliation
Commercial training companies	Not classified as educational institutions under PKNIC rules
Coaching centres without formal registration	Unregistered entities do not qualify regardless of size
NGOs running informal education programmes	Must have formal institutional registration to apply
Individuals building education-themed websites	Domain is restricted to institutions, not individuals

If your institution is registered and affiliated, but you are unsure whether you qualify, contact PKNIC directly before submitting documents.

 Submitting an incomplete or ineligible application delays the process.

What Documents Do You Need Before You Apply

PKNIC requires hard copy documents sent to their Lahore office before activating your .edu.pk Domain. 

Prepare every document on this list before you start the registration process.

Missing a single item means starting the verification process again.

1) Authorization letter on official institute letterhead

Signed and stamped by the Principal, Rector, or Head of Institution. The letter must name the person authorized to manage the Domain on behalf of the institution.

2) Government registration or affiliation certificate

 A copy of the certificate issued by the relevant authority like HEC, BISE, provincial education department, or TEVTA. This is the primary proof of eligibility.

3)  CNIC copy of the authorized signatory.

The National Identity Card of the person who signed the authorization letter.

4)  Proof of active student enrollment

This can be a current prospectus, a recent utility bill in the institution’s name, or a letter from the affiliated board confirming active status.

5)  Complete institutional contact details. 

Postal address, official email address, and landline telephone number of the institution. PO Box addresses are not accepted.

Send all documents to:

• PKNIC Collection Office
• 435 Tariq Block, Garden Town, Lahore

Documents submitted by courier or in person only. Email submissions are not accepted for .edu.pk verification.

How the Registration Process Works Step by Step

The .edu.pk registration process has two parts: the online order and the offline document submission. Both must be completed before your Domain goes live.

1) Check that your domain name is available

Search for your preferred .edu.pk name through a PKNIC-accredited registrar before placing any order.

2) Place your order through a PKNIC-accredited registrar

 You cannot register directly through PKNIC. You must go through an accredited registrar. Truehost is an accredited registrar. See truehost.com/domains/

3) Make payment

The .edu.pk domains must be registered for a minimum of two years. Payment is required before the Domain enters the verification queue.

4) Your Domain shows as Pending Verification

 After payment, the Domain is provisionally registered under your institution’s name but is not yet active. It remains in this status until documents are verified.

5) Send your hard copy documents to PKNIC Lahore

Post or courier all five required documents to 435 Tariq Block, Garden Town, Lahore. Keep your courier tracking number.

6) PKNIC verifies your documents

Verification takes up to 10 working days from the date documents are received. If documents are incomplete or incorrect, PKNIC contacts you and the clock resets.

7)  Domain is activated and goes live

Once verification passes, your .edu.PK Domain is fully active and pointing to your hosting account.

The entire process from order to live Domain typically takes two to three weeks when documents are complete and corrected the first time. 

Plan accordingly if you have a launch deadline.

.EDU.PK Domain Pricing

PKNIC sets the official pricing for .edu.pk domains. Registrar fees may vary slightly above the base rate.

Registration detail	Price
Pakistan-based registrant per year	PKR 1,800
Minimum registration period	2 years (PKR 3,600 minimum payment)
Maximum registration period	10 years
International registrant or registrar per year	USD 15.99
Renewal	Same annual rate, no new documents required
Transfer to a new registrar	Standard transfer fee applies

Renewal does not require resubmitting documents. 

As long as your institution remains registered and affiliated, you renew through your registrar like any other domain. 

Set auto-renewal to avoid the Domain lapsing. It’s because recovering an expired .edu.pk requires going through the full verification process again.

.EDU.PK vs .AC.PK: Which One Should Your Institution Choose

Pakistan offers two domain extensions specifically for the education sector. Many institutions do not know the difference before applying. Here is the comparison that helps you choose the right one.

	.edu.pk	.ac.pk
Who can register	Registered institutions only, full verification required	Individuals, private academies, and institutions with simpler process
Documents required	Full PKNIC verification package with hard copies	Lighter documentation, varies by registrar
Perceived credibility	Higher, signals government-recognised institutional status	Moderate, widely used but less restricted
Typical registration time	2 to 3 weeks including verification	Faster, often within a few days
Best for	Schools, colleges, universities, and government education bodies	Private academies, tutoring centres, individual educators, smaller institutes
Minimum registration	2 years	1 year

If your institution qualifies for .edu.pk, register it.

The verification process takes longer, but the .ac. pk Domain signals a level of official recognition that .ac.pk does not carry. 

If you are a private academy, coaching centre, or individual educator, .ac.pk is the practical and faster route.

Register Your.EDU.PK Domain Today

Truehost is a PKNIC-accredited registrar. Search for your .edu.pk domain name, place your order, and we will guide you through the document submission process.Check availability and see pricing here.