SECP registers 2,747 new firms in July-Dec

ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 2,747 new companies in the first-half of the 2015/16 fiscal year, up around 25 percent over the same period of the last fiscal year, a statement said on Thursday.

During July–Dec 2015, around 90 percent companies were registered as private limited companies, while seven percent companies were registered as single member companies. Three percent of the companies secured registration as public unlisted, not-for-profit associations, trade organisations and foreign companies.

Foreign investment was also witnessed in 154 new companies. These companies received investment from Afghanistan, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Burma, Canada, Cayman Islands, China, Denmark, Georgia, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea (South), Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Qatar, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, UK, Ukraine and the U.S. 

Trading sector took lead in incorporations by registering 357 companies, followed by services with 349, information technology 244, construction 225, tourism 204, power generation 97, communications 87, education 83, corporate agricultural farming 78, broadcasting and telecasting and food and beverages with 75 each.  

Total 72 companies were registered in pharmaceutical sector and engineering 70 and 731 companies were registered in other sectors. Moreover, 25 foreign companies were also registered in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore.

In December 2015, the commission registered 531 new companies. Around 87 percent of the companies were registered as private limited companies, nine percent as single member companies and four percent as public unlisted, not-for-profit associations and foreign companies. Incorporations, in this month, included seven foreign companies and foreign investment in 35 local companies.