SECP registers record 3,609 new firms in May

KARACHI: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan registered 3,609 new companies in May, the highest monthly total in its history, as digitalisation efforts continue to streamline business formation and attract investor interest.

The figure surpasses the previous record of 3,442 set in January, bringing the total number of registered companies nationwide to over 255,000. Around 99.9 per cent of May’s incorporations were processed online, reflecting the success of the SECP’s digital reforms aimed at simplifying registration and promoting entrepreneurship.

The new registrations raised over Rs2.7 billion in capital. Private limited companies made up 59 per cent of the total, while single-member companies accounted for 37 per cent. The remainder included public unlisted firms, not-for-profit organisations, limited liability partnerships (LLPs), and guarantee-limited companies.

Technology and e-commerce led sectoral growth, with 718 new firms, followed by trading (506), services (447), and real estate and construction (342). Tourism and transport (237), food and beverages (187), and education (160) also showed notable activity.

Other sectors contributing to the uptick included mining and quarrying (89), pharmaceuticals (78), textiles (74), marketing and advertising (72), cosmetics (67), engineering (62) and healthcare (51). An additional 519 firms were registered across categories such as chemicals, agriculture, fuel and energy, power generation and sports.

The SECP also issued 56 new licences across various regulatory domains in May, including three in capital markets, one in insurance, three in non-banking financial services, and 49 to non-governmental organisations under Section 42 of the Companies Act, 2017.Foreign investment continued to flow into Pakistan’s corporate sector, with 98 newly registered companies receiving foreign capital during the month.