Pakistan Written in Urdu: پاکستان — Script, Spelling and Usage

Pakistan is written in Urdu as پاکستان. Since Urdu is Pakistan’s national language and the name itself is an Urdu word, the Urdu form is the original — the English “Pakistan” is a transliteration of it. This page shows the correct spelling, breaks down each letter, and explains where the written form appears.

The correct spelling, letter by letter

Urdu is written right to left in the Perso-Arabic script. پاکستان is spelled:

• پ — pe, “p” (the letter with three dots below, unique to Urdu/Persian)
• ا — alif, “a”
• ک — kaf, “k”
• س — seen, “s”
• ت — te, “t”
• ا — alif, “a”
• ن — noon, “n”

Note the پ (pe) — the three-dot letter that distinguishes Urdu/Persian spelling from Arabic, which lacks it. A common misspelling to avoid is writing the Arabic ب (be, one dot) instead of پ.

Pronunciation guide

“Paa-kis-taan” — three syllables: paa (long “a”, as in “father”), kis (short “i”, as in “kiss”), taan (long “a”). The stress falls on the final syllable. The ک (kaf) is a crisp, unaspirated “k”. English speakers saying “Pakistan” already say it essentially the Urdu way, since the English name is borrowed directly from the Urdu.

Nastaliq vs Naskh script

In Pakistan, Urdu is traditionally printed in the Nastaliq style — the elegant, sloping calligraphy seen in newspapers like Jang and Nawa-i-Waqt — while digital text usually renders in the plainer Naskh style. Both write پاکستان the same letters; only the style differs. On official documents, currency and the national flag’s context, the Nastaliq form is the familiar one.

Where the Urdu form appears

The Urdu پاکستان appears on Pakistani currency notes, passports, government seals, number plates and official signage across the country. The full official form — اسلامی جمہوریہ پاکستان — appears on formal state documents. The name’s meaning in Urdu (سرزمینِ پاک, “the pure land”) is explained in our guide to Pakistan’s meaning in Urdu, and the complete history of the name in our full guide to the meaning of Pakistan.

FAQs

How do you write Pakistan in Urdu?

پاکستان — seven letters, written right to left: پ ا ک س ت ا ن.

How do you pronounce Pakistan in Urdu?

“Paa-kis-taan” — long “a” sounds, crisp “k”, stress on the final syllable.

What is Pakistan’s full name in Urdu writing?

اسلامی جمہوریہ پاکستان (Islami Jamhuriya-e-Pakistan) — “Islamic Republic of Pakistan”.

Is the English “Pakistan” a translation?

No — it is a transliteration. The English spelling represents the sounds of the Urdu پاکستان; the translation is “Land of the Pure”.