Applications for patents can be made by a person of any nationality according to the prescribed form. However, residents of Pakistan may not generally make application outside Pakistan without written authority of the Controller unless he files application for invention in Pakistan not less than six weeks before making application outside of Pakistan. Applicant must be first and true inventor of invention or else assignee of such person. Application should be accompanied by provisional or complete specification plus documents supporting applicant’s title where he is assign. If provisional specification is filed in first instance, complete specification must be filed within at most 12 months. A patent is granted for a period of 20 years from the date of filing of application.