Getting listed is mostly a paperwork exercise. The platforms differ in what they charge and how fast they move, but they all want the same things: proof of who you are, proof you are allowed to sell food, and a menu with prices.
Have the documents ready before you start and the whole thing takes a day or two. Start without them and it takes weeks, because each round trip waits on you finding a photocopy.
What you need before you begin
- CNIC of the owner — front and back, photographed flat and readable. Blurred CNIC scans are the single most common reason verification is sent back.
- Proof of the premises — a recent utility bill in the business or owner’s name is what most platforms accept as address proof.
- A photograph of the storefront, taken from outside, with the signage legible.
- Your food licence from the food authority for the province you trade in (see below).
- Bank or wallet details for payouts, if the platform handles customer money.
- A menu with final prices, and photographs of the dishes if you have them.
The licence you actually need
Food safety is a provincial matter in Pakistan, so the licence you need depends on where your kitchen is, not where your customers are.
| Where you trade | Authority | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab | Punjab Food Authority | Punjab Food Authority Act 2011 |
| Sindh | Sindh Food Authority | Sindh Food Authority Act 2016 |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | KP Food Safety & Halal Food Authority | KP Act 2014 |
| Balochistan | Balochistan Food Authority | Balochistan Food Authority Act 2014 |
| Islamabad Capital Territory | The applicable federal / ICT regime | — |
A licence issued in one province does not cover a kitchen in another. If you open a second outlet across a provincial line, that outlet needs its own.
Pharmacies are a separate case: a drug sale licence under the Drugs Act 1976, issued by the provincial licensing authority. Prescription-only medicines cannot lawfully be dispensed without a valid prescription verified by the pharmacy, which is why most delivery platforms — Snabb included — do not carry them at all.
Registering the business itself
Separate from the platform signup, and worth doing properly if you are past the hobby stage:
- A National Tax Number (NTN) from the FBR. Required once your annual income passes the filing threshold, and asked for by most platforms.
- Sales tax on services registration with your provincial revenue authority — PRA in Punjab, SRB in Sindh, KPRA, BRA, or the FBR for ICT.
- SECP incorporation if you are trading as a company rather than a sole proprietor. Not required to sell food; required if you want limited liability.
What it costs on each model
The pricing splits into two shapes, and which is cheaper depends entirely on your volume.
| Model | What you pay | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Commission (foodpanda and similar) | 25–35% of every order, plus 2–3% on card payments | Low volume, or you have no riders and need the fleet |
| Flat subscription (Snabb) | A fixed monthly fee, 0% per order, you deliver | Above roughly Rs 18,000–20,000 monthly delivery sales, with your own rider |
How long approval takes
Verification is a human reading your documents, so the honest answer is one working day when the paperwork is clean and considerably longer when it is not. The delays that are within your control:
- Photograph documents flat, in daylight, with all four corners in frame. Most rejections are legibility, not substance.
- Make sure the name on the utility bill matches the name on the application, or explain the difference up front.
- Upload an unexpired licence. An expired food licence is an automatic refusal everywhere.
- Pin your location accurately on the map. Delivery radius and fees are calculated from that pin, and an address typed without a pin reaches nobody.
Listing on Snabb
The process is the one above: register at partner.snabb.pk, upload the documents, pin the store, add the menu. There is no commission and no exclusivity, so you can list here and stay on an aggregator at the same time — most stores do at first.
Snabb verifies no riders, because Snabb arranges no delivery. If you deliver, you do it with your own people on your own terms — the listing simply says whether you deliver, how far, and what you charge, so a customer knows before they ring.
Common questions
What documents do I need to list my restaurant on a food delivery app in Pakistan?
Owner CNIC (front and back), proof of premises such as a recent utility bill, a storefront photograph, and a valid food licence from the food authority of the province you trade in. A menu with final prices, and ideally photographs of the dishes.
Do I need a food licence to sell food online in Pakistan?
Yes. Food safety is provincial, so you need a licence from the authority covering your kitchen — the Punjab Food Authority, Sindh Food Authority, KP Food Safety & Halal Food Authority, or Balochistan Food Authority. A licence from one province does not cover premises in another.
How long does it take to get listed?
Around a working day when the documents are clean and legible. Most delays are photographs that cannot be read, a name mismatch on the utility bill, or an expired licence.
Can I list on more than one delivery platform at once?
Generally yes, and most restaurants do. Snabb requires no exclusivity. Check your own agreement with any platform that does.
Do I need an NTN to sell food online?
You need to register with the FBR once your annual income passes the filing threshold, and most platforms ask for an NTN. You do not need one to cook, but you will need one to trade properly at any scale.