Registry, registrar and reseller: who owns your domain?

Three layers behind every domain

Think of a domain as a plot of land. The registry keeps the master list for one extension. It records who holds each name. IANA lists VeriSign Global Registry Services as the manager of .com and PKNIC, in Lahore, as the sponsoring organisation of .pk.

A registrar is a business with direct access to the registry. For global extensions such as .com, ICANN accredits registrars that meet its technical, operational and financial criteria. A reseller sits one step further out. It sells names, but files them through a registrar or the registry.

Many owners only ever meet the reseller. That is fine, as long as you know who is named on the record.

Registry: the master list

Each extension has one registry. It keeps the central database and sets the rules for that extension.

For .pk and .com.pk, that registry is PKNIC. It sets its own rules, including the minimum term and the fee. For .com, it is Verisign. Rules differ between extensions because different registries wrote them.

To see how these extensions compare, read /pk-vs-com-pk-vs-com/.

• One registry per extension
• Registry rules apply whoever you buy from
• Check the extension's rules before you pay

Registrar and reseller: who you pay

For .com and other global extensions, ICANN says a registration must be covered by a Registration Agreement with an ICANN-accredited registrar. That agreement is part of the paper trail for your rights.

A reseller is a middle layer. A careful one files the name in your details. A careless one can file it under its own name or a staff member's, because it is quicker. You pay, yet the record shows someone else.

That can work until the relationship ends. Then you may have to ask for your own domain back.

The registrant field decides ownership

ICANN describes a registrant as an individual or legal entity registering a domain. The registrant takes sole responsibility for the registration and its use. That is the field that counts when a dispute, transfer or renewal comes up. An invoice or a WhatsApp chat does not change it.

For .pk and .com.pk, PKNIC fixes the registrant name at registration. A wrong name at the start can be hard to fix later. Check the spelling of your name or company before you pay.

If a developer, an agency or a friend registered the name for you, ask them for the registrant details today. Do not wait until you fall out.

Protecting yourself before you pay

Ask three plain questions before you order. Whose name goes in the registrant field? Who files it with the registry? What happens if you leave?

Ask for proof after filing. Keep a copy of the registration details and the date. Our /register-pk-domain/ page explains the steps for .pk, and /domain-name-rules/ covers naming rules.

If you already hold a domain under someone else's name, see /pk-domain-transfer/ for options.

• Use your own legal name or company name
• Keep the login and renewal emails in your own inbox
• Write down the registrant name after filing

How we handle it at SastiDomains

We are a small Pakistani company. We are not a registrar, and we are not accredited by or affiliated with PKNIC, ICANN or any company. We file your order through PKNIC or a registrar, and the domain goes in your own name.

Our /domains/ search checks availability live. You pay in rupees by bank transfer, Raast, JazzCash or Easypaisa, and we aim to file the same working day the payment arrives. Unpaid orders cancel after 48 hours. If the name is taken before we file, you get a full refund.

For .pk and .com.pk, PKNIC's fee is Rs 2,100 per year for Pakistan-based registrants from 1 Aug 2026, and USD 15.99 per year for overseas ones. The minimum term is two years. See /pricing/ for details.

Common questions