Pakistan’s corporate sector attracts stable foreign investment

April 18, 2026 (MLN): Foreign participation in Pakistan’s corporate sector held firm in the first quarter of 2026, which emphasizes steady investor confidence despite a challenging economic environment.

220 companies with foreign shareholders were registered during January–March 2026, contributing a total paid-up capital of Rs 657 million.

This marks a slight increase from Rs 642m recorded in the same period last year.

The figures, part of the third-quarter review for FY2025–26, highlight sustained foreign engagement in Pakistan’s formal business landscape, according to a press release issued.

Investment remained concentrated in key sectors such as trading, services, IT, construction, and mining, reflecting continued interest in both traditional and emerging segments of the economy.

Overall corporate activity also showed strong momentum. A total of 10,318 new companies were registered during the quarter, representing a 12.5% year-on-year increase.

Private companies accounted for the majority share at 58.6%, followed by single-member companies at 37.9%, indicating ongoing expansion in the small and medium enterprise (SME) segment.

Regionally, Punjab led with 50.2% of total incorporations, followed by Islamabad at 19.0% and Sindh at 15.5%.

Notably, Sindh recorded a robust 23% growth, while Gilgit-Baltistan emerged as the fastest-growing region with a remarkable 97.8% increase, signaling rising business formalization in underserved areas.

Sector-wise, activity remained concentrated, with the top seven sectors contributing 71.9% of total registrations.

The IT and e-commerce sector led the way with 2,065 new companies, accounting for 20% of total incorporations.

Trading followed with 16.4%, and services with 12.5%. The trading sector posted the highest growth at 41.1%, while communications and healthcare sectors also recorded notable gains.

On the regulatory side, the SECP processed 95,823 corporate filings during the quarter, a 27% increase compared to the same period last year.

Post-incorporation filings rose by 33%, pointing to improved compliance and a gradually maturing corporate environment.

Meanwhile, the Secured Transactions Registry remained active, with more than 6,000 financing statements filed and over 5,000 searches conducted, supporting greater access to credit and financial inclusion.

The overall data points to stable foreign inflows, growing corporate activity, and deeper integration of Pakistan’s economy with global markets.

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