SECP records over 4k company registrations in July 2025

August 6, 2025 (MLN): In July 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 4,065 new companies, setting a new monthly record and beating the previous high of 3,609 set in May. Almost all of these (99.9%) were registered online. With this, the total number of registered companies in Pakistan has reached 262,309.

The combined paid-up capital (the amount invested by shareholders) for these new companies was about Rs. 4.96 million.

Most of the new businesses were private limited companies (57%) and single-member companies (39%). The rest included public unlisted firms, not-for-profit organizations, companies limited by guarantee, and limited liability partnerships.

Sector Breakdown

The IT and e-commerce sectors saw the most activity, with 862 new companies, followed by:

• Trading – 530
• Services – 468
• Real estate and construction – 398
• Tourism and transport – 295
• Food and beverages – 203
• Education – 148
• Marketing & advertising – 98
• Mining & quarrying – 95
• Textiles – 91
• Pharmaceuticals – 86
• Agriculture – 74
• Engineering – 64
• Cosmetics and toiletries – 59
• Chemicals and healthcare – 56

Another 482 companies were registered across various other sectors including energy, non-profits, automotive, and communications.

Foreign Investment and Licensing

There was also strong interest from abroad, with 96 new companies receiving foreign investment from a wide range of countries.

In addition, the SECP issued 60 licenses in different regulatory areas, including:

• Capital markets – 5
• Insurance – 1
• Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) – 2
• Not-for-profit associations – 52

Promoting Business Awareness

Following its Registrars Conference, the SECP is rolling out an awareness campaign to highlight the benefits of formal incorporation—such as limited liability, improved credibility, easier financing, and better brand protection.

The SECP says it's continuing to improve its digital systems and simplify its regulatory processes to make it easier for entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses in Pakistan.