How do I get my domain back from an old web developer?

Start by identifying the registrar. A WHOIS lookup on your domain shows which company manages it and the expiry date, though owner details are often hidden for privacy. For .com and similar endings, the registrar is a company like the one that sold the domain. For .pk and .com.pk addresses, the registry is PKNIC, and the domain may be held directly with it or through a reseller. Note the expiry date carefully, because a domain that expires while still in someone else's account becomes much harder to recover.

Then ask politely and in writing. Many former developers are simply busy or have forgotten, and will either move the domain to an account you create or give you the transfer authorisation code. Keep the request short: the domain, that you want it moved into your own account, and by when. Do not threaten first. If they ask for unpaid fees, decide whether settling is quicker than a dispute; often it is. Make sure every message is saved, since it may become evidence later.

If they refuse or cannot be reached, contact the registrar or PKNIC directly and explain the situation. Each has its own process, and they will ask for proof of your right to the name, such as business registration, tax documents, invoices showing you paid for the domain, letterheads or other records that tie the business to the brand. Outcomes are not guaranteed and can take time. Our maintenance service helps with these recoveries, and for sites we build under the Business bundle the domain is registered in your name from the start.