SECP registers second-highest monthly tally of 5,241 companies in September

Pakistan’s corporate sector added 5,241 new companies in September, taking the total number of registered companies in the country to 317,002, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP).

The regulator said 99.9% of the new companies were registered online through its eZfile portal and integrated federal and provincial systems, highlighting the growing role of digital services in business registration.

Private limited companies accounted for the largest share of new registrations, with 3,013 incorporations, or 57.5% of the total. Single-member companies followed with 2,058 registrations, representing 39.2%.

The remaining registrations included 127 limited liability partnerships, 29 not-for-profit companies, 10 public companies, two trade organisations and two foreign companies.

IT sector leads registrations

The information technology sector topped the list with 920 new companies registered during the month.

Trading ranked second with 808 registrations, followed by services with 599 and construction with 339. Food and beverages accounted for 239 new companies, while tourism recorded 222 and real estate development 193.

The education sector saw 189 registrations, followed by e-commerce with 179 and mining and quarrying with 127. Another 1,426 companies were registered across other sectors.

Punjab accounts for largest share

Punjab recorded the highest number of new registrations at 2,740, accounting for 52.3% of the total.

Islamabad Capital Territory followed with 1,009 companies, while Sindh recorded 790. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accounted for 428 registrations, followed by Gilgit-Baltistan with 169 and Balochistan with 105.

Foreign investors participate

The SECP said 167 foreign investors participated in company registrations during September. China accounted for the largest share, with 113 investors, followed by the United States with seven, the United Kingdom with six, Hong Kong with five, and Singapore and Saudi Arabia with three each.

The regulator also reported that women accounted for 14% of shareholders and directors, 11% of ultimate beneficial owners and 8% of chief executives among the reported categories.

SECP Chairman Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu said company incorporation was an important step towards building a formal, documented economy. He added that the commission was working to simplify registration procedures and make it easier for entrepreneurs to establish businesses.

The September registrations follow the addition of 4,761 companies in August, when the total number of registered companies crossed 300,000. The latest figures take the national total above 317,000.