Pakistan SEO directory submission list free

Why directory submission still matters in Pakistan (2025)

Directory submissions aren’t a silver bullet in modern SEO, but they remain foundational for local search in Pakistan. When done properly, they provide:

• Local citations: Consistent Name, Address, and Phone (NAP) across trusted directories helps Google verify your business and boost local pack rankings.
• Referral traffic: Many Pakistanis discover businesses via local listing sites and maps, especially in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad.
• Trust signals: Even nofollow links can improve trust and entity recognition (E-E-A-T), especially when profiles are complete and match each other.
• Brand visibility: Your business appears for category searches (e.g., “plumber in Gulshan-e-Iqbal,” “caterers DHA Lahore”).

Preparation checklist for Pakistan directory submissions

Before you start, prepare a master document that you will copy-paste into each platform. Consistency prevents errors and speeds up the process.

• NAP: Official business name, full street address, city, postal code, and primary phone number (with +92 format if possible).
• Website and tracking: Primary URL and UTM-tagged URL for directories where you want to track clicks (e.g., ?utm_source=directory&utm_medium=referral).
• Categories: 1 primary and up to 3 secondary categories (e.g., “Bakery,” “Dessert Shop,” “Café”). Keep categories consistent across major platforms.
• Business description: A 50–80 word short version and a 150–250 word long version. Include location keywords like “Karachi,” “Lahore,” “Islamabad,” and neighborhood names if relevant.
• Photos: Logo (1024×1024), cover image (1200×628), interior/exterior shots, team photos, product photos.
• Hours: Regular and holiday hours. Update during Ramadan and Eid as needed.
• Contact: Email, WhatsApp Business number, and social links (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok if applicable).
• Service areas: City and neighborhood coverage (e.g., DHA, Gulberg, Bahria Town).
• Languages: If your audience is bilingual, consider English and Urdu descriptions (Unicode Urdu is fine).
• Schema: Add LocalBusiness schema on your site to reinforce your entity details.

LocalBusiness schema example to mirror your listings:

{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "LocalBusiness",
"name": "Example Bakers",
"image": "https://www.example.com/images/logo.png",
"@id": "https://www.example.com",
"url": "https://www.example.com",
"telephone": "+92 21 12345678",
"address": {
  "@type": "PostalAddress",
  "streetAddress": "123 Main Road, Block 5",
  "addressLocality": "Karachi",
  "postalCode": "75500",
  "addressCountry": "PK"
},
"geo": {"@type":"GeoCoordinates","latitude":24.8607,"longitude":67.0011},
"openingHours": "Mo-Su 08:00-22:00",
"sameAs": [
  "https://www.facebook.com/example",
  "https://www.instagram.com/example",
  "https://www.linkedin.com/company/example"
]
}

Free Pakistan SEO directory submission list

Below are reputable, free-to-submit platforms that accept Pakistani businesses. Start with the Pakistan-focused sites and major maps, then build breadth with global directories that support Pakistan. For each, use consistent NAP and complete your profile.

Pakistan-focused general directories

• BusinessList.pk – https://www.businesslist.pk — Popular Pakistan business directory with category and city filters.
• Lookup.pk – https://www.lookup.pk — Business listings by category and region; visibility for B2B and services.
• PakBiz (B2B Directory) – https://www.pakbiz.com — Good for manufacturers, exporters, wholesalers, suppliers.
• Paktive – https://www.paktive.com — City-focused listings (e.g., Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad) for places and services.
• Findpk (Pakistan Business Directory) – https://www.findpk.com — Long-standing portal featuring companies and services in Pakistan.

Maps and local citation platforms (essential)

• Google Business Profile – https://www.google.com/business — Core local SEO asset; appear on Google Maps and the local pack.
• Bing Places – https://www.bingplaces.com — Syncs with Bing Maps; useful for Microsoft ecosystem users.
• Apple Maps – https://mapsconnect.apple.com — Important for iPhone users in Pakistan; enables Siri and Apple Maps visibility.
• OpenStreetMap – https://www.openstreetmap.org — Open data map used by many apps; add your business as a POI.
• HERE WeGo (HERE Map Creator) – https://mapcreator.here.com — Powering many automotive and mobile maps; claim/add your place.
• Waze – https://www.waze.com/editor — Update or add places; helps with navigation and “near me” discovery.

Global free directories that support Pakistan businesses

• Brownbook – https://www.brownbook.net — Global business directory with rich profiles and categories.
• Manta – https://www.manta.com — Business listings; helpful for brand/entity citations and referral traffic.
• Hotfrog – https://www.hotfrog.com — International directory; supports Pakistan listings via global portal.
• Tuugo – https://www.tuugo.com — Global directory network with country sections; add company info and services.
• Yalwa – https://www.yalwa.com — Classifieds-style directory with business categories and cities.
• Lacartes – https://www.lacartes.com — Company pages with products, services, and reviews.
• Opendi – https://www.opendi.com — International listings; create profiles with contact and hours.
• iGlobal – https://www.iglobal.co — Submit your business and choose Pakistan cities and categories.
• Kompass – https://pk.kompass.com or https://www.kompass.com — B2B directory; free basic listing for many categories.
• Foursquare – https://foursquare.com — Claim/add your venue; data is used by multiple partners/apps.
• Yelp – https://www.yelp.com — Limited use in Pakistan but still a credible citation; claim or add your business.
• Crunchbase – https://www.crunchbase.com — For startups and companies; enhances brand entity and trust.
• Trustpilot – https://www.trustpilot.com — Create a company profile; collect reviews to boost credibility.
• Sitejabber – https://www.sitejabber.com — Useful if you sell online in Pakistan; social proof and brand presence.

Social and profile citations (high trust, often nofollow but valuable)

• Facebook Pages – https://www.facebook.com/pages/create — Add full NAP, About, services, and WhatsApp.
• Instagram Professional Account – https://www.instagram.com — Convert to business; add address, link, action buttons.
• LinkedIn Company Page – https://www.linkedin.com/company/setup — Strong trust signal for B2B brands in Pakistan.
• YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com — Add website and contact links; geo-tag videos if relevant.
• X (Twitter) Profile – https://twitter.com — Add website, bio with location keywords (Karachi/Lahore/Islamabad).
• Pinterest Business – https://business.pinterest.com — Useful for visual brands; link to your site and products.
• TikTok Business – https://www.tiktok.com/business — Add link-in-bio; relevant for consumer brands and local services.

Niche directories for Pakistani businesses

Target industry-specific directories for higher buyer intent and better local relevance. Here are credible options for common Pakistan sectors:

Healthcare

• Marham – https://www.marham.pk — Doctor and clinic directory with appointments and reviews.
• oladoc – https://oladoc.com — Doctor/hospital listings; manage availability and patient feedback.
• Google Business Profile Healthcare categories — For clinics and labs; add services and insurance info in the description.

Real Estate

• Zameen – https://www.zameen.com — Create/claim agency and agent profiles; showcase listings and reviews.
• Google Maps — Claim office; add service areas for neighborhoods (e.g., Bahria Town, DHA, Gulberg).

Automotive

• PakWheels – https://www.pakwheels.com — Dealer profiles for cars/bikes, garages, and auto services.
• Google Business Profile — Add categories like Auto Repair Shop, Car Dealer, Tyre Shop; upload photos and services.

Food and Restaurants

• foodpanda Partners – https://www.foodpanda.pk — Partner portal for restaurants to be discoverable and accept orders.
• Tripadvisor for Restaurants — https://www.tripadvisor.com/Owners — Claim and optimize menu, photos, and hours.
• Google Business Profile — Add menu links, order links, and popular dishes in photos.

Hospitality and Travel

• Tripadvisor — https://www.tripadvisor.com/Owners — For hotels, guest houses, attractions, and tours.
• Booking.com (Partner) — https://www.booking.com/hotelreg.html — Visibility for hotels/guest houses.
• Agoda (Partner) — https://ycs.agoda.com — Additional exposure for accommodations.
• Google Maps — Claim property and add amenities, photos, and Q&A.

Quality guidelines: play it safe and smart

• Quality over quantity: 20–40 good citations beat 300 low-quality spam directories.
• Dofollow vs nofollow: Both can help. Nofollow links still aid discovery, indexing, and entity confidence.
• Consistency: Keep NAP identical. Even small differences (Ave vs Avenue) can cause data fragmentation.
• Unique descriptions: Use a core description but vary wording slightly to avoid duplicate content footprints.
• Avoid paid link farms: If a directory looks spammy or demands payment for “dofollow” links, skip it.
• Verify ownership: Claim profiles using email/phone verification to prevent hijacking and to enable updates.
• Monitor reviews: Encourage real customer reviews on high-trust platforms (Google, Facebook, niche sites).
• Keep updated: Update Ramadan/Eid hours, relocations, or number changes across all listings immediately.

Optimize listings for “near me” and Pakistan city SEO

• City and neighborhood keywords: Mention service areas like Gulberg, DHA, Bahria, Saddar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, F-7, etc.
• Photo SEO: Use real photos, add captions where possible, and keep EXIF geodata intact on your site (platforms often strip it, but originals help).
• Services list: On GBP and directories, add your exact services (e.g., “AC installation,” “wedding cakes,” “audit services”).
• Attributes: Enable attributes like “Wheelchair accessible,” “Delivery,” “Cashless accepted,” when available.
• Urdu + English: If the directory allows, include Urdu keywords for local audiences alongside English terms.
• UTMs: Track referral clicks by adding UTM parameters to links where allowed.
• Interlink: Link from your website’s Contact page to your major profiles (Google Maps, Facebook, BusinessList.pk) to help discovery.

Measure the impact

• Google Search Console: Monitor new referring links (Links report), impressions for branded searches, and local queries.
• GBP Insights: Track views, calls, direction requests, and website clicks by city and device.
• Analytics: Filter traffic by source/medium (referral) to see which directories drive leads; use UTMs.
• Indexing: After creating a listing that links to your site, request indexing of the linked page on your site to speed discovery.
• Rank tracking: Check “near me” and city keywords in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad using a location-aware rank tracker.

FAQ: Pakistan directory submissions

Are directory submissions still effective in 2025?

Yes—when focused on reputable Pakistan directories, major maps, and niche platforms. They build trusted citations, improve local pack visibility, and can bring referral traffic. They are not a standalone strategy but a strong foundation.

How many directories should I submit to?

For most local businesses in Pakistan, start with 25–50 quality listings (including maps and social profiles), then expand to relevant niche directories. Avoid mass-submitting to hundreds of low-quality sites.

Do I need dofollow links for value?

No. Nofollow links and unlinked citations still help with entity verification and local rankings. Focus on completeness, consistency, and relevance.

Should I use Urdu or English?

Both if possible. English is widely used in directories, but Urdu can increase relevance and conversions for local audiences. Keep NAP in a consistent format.

What if my business is service-area only (no storefront)?

On Google Business Profile and similar platforms, hide your exact address and specify service areas (e.g., Lahore, DHA, Gulberg). Many directories support service-area businesses.

How do I find more Pakistan-specific directories?

Use Google search operators: try queries like “site:.pk add business,” “Pakistan business directory submit,” “Karachi business listing,” “Lahore business directory,” or “Islamabad directory add listing.” Verify that each site is active and reputable before submitting.

Quick submission workflow

1. Create your master NAP and media kit.
2. Submit to core platforms first: Google Business Profile, BusinessList.pk, Lookup.pk, PakBiz, Paktive.
3. Add maps/citations: Bing Places, Apple Maps, OpenStreetMap, HERE, Waze.
4. Build breadth: Brownbook, Manta, Hotfrog, Tuugo, Yalwa, Lacartes, Opendi, iGlobal, Kompass.
5. Claim social/profiles: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, X, Pinterest, TikTok.
6. Add niche listings relevant to your industry (healthcare, real estate, auto, food, travel).
7. Track with UTMs and monitor calls, direction requests, and conversions.
8. Update hours and photos seasonally; respond to reviews.

Related semantic keywords to include in your profiles

To strengthen semantic relevance, naturally include terms like: Pakistan business directory, free business listing Pakistan, local citations Pakistan, Karachi business listing, Lahore directory submission, Islamabad local SEO, Pakistan backlinks, dofollow/nofollow links, NAP consistency, Google Maps Pakistan, Pakistan Yellow Pages (generic term), online marketing Pakistan, SME visibility Pakistan, near me searches, service areas, business categories, schema markup, and review management.

Final thoughts

Directory submission in Pakistan remains a practical, low-cost way to build your local SEO foundation. Prioritize accuracy, choose reputable directories, and leverage niche platforms where your customers are already searching. Combined with strong on-page SEO, reviews, and quality content, these local citations will help your business show up more often—and earn more calls, messages, and sales across Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and beyond.

Reminder: Always double-check current submission policies and availability. Platforms evolve, and the best results come from keeping your listings complete and up to date.