ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 14,802 new companies in the first 4 months of fiscal year 2025, indicating growing confidence in the country’s corporate sector.
The official news agency ‘APP’ reported that 99.9 per cent of these companies were registered online, taking the total number of registered companies in Pakistan to 272,918, the statement issued by the Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan said.
The total paid-up capital of the companies during the period was Rs 20.59 billion. In terms of company structure, 59 per cent of the new registrations were of private limited companies, while 37 per cent were of single-member companies (SMCs), and the remaining 4 per cent included public unlisted companies, non-profit organisations, commercial entities and limited liability partnerships.
In addition, 10 foreign companies also set up their business offices in Pakistan during this period. These companies were registered online through SECP’s digital platform, which enabled businesspeople across the country to register their companies without having to visit the office.
Along with major cities like Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi, about 30 per cent of the registrations were from the other 250 cities and towns in the country, including Layyah, Burewala, Bhakkar, Pakpattan, Hasilpur, Chaman, Gwadar, Zhob, Turbat, Bannu, Kohat, Tank, Swat, Mansehra, Thatta, Larkana, Dadu, Rohri, Hunza and Gilgit, reflecting the growing reach of SECP’s digital services.
According to the data by provinces, 7,476 companies were registered in Punjab, followed by 3,230 in Islamabad Capital Territory, 2,197 in Sindh, 1,320 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 337 in Gilgit-Baltistan, and 242 in Balochistan.
The information technology and e-commerce sectors registered the highest number of new companies at 2,999, followed by 1,954 in trading, 1,807 in services, and 1,393 in real estate development and construction. Other active sectors include tourism and transport (1,042), education (787), food and beverages (751), mining and quarrying (346), marketing and advertising (342), textiles (327), pharmaceuticals (284), agriculture and farming (242), healthcare (242), cosmetics and toiletries (229), engineering (236), fuel and energy (188), chemicals (184), and auto and related industries (153). In addition, 1,296 companies were registered in various other sectors, including non-profit organisations, cable and electrical equipment, communications, power generation, timber harvesting, sports, arts and culture, steel, broadcasting, paper and board, insurance, and NBFCs. Foreign investment also showed a positive trend as 332 new companies received capital from international investors from various countries.
