SECP registers 2,993 new companies in March

 April 13, 2026 (MLN): The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 2,993 new companies in March 2026, reflecting an 11% increase YoY, compared to the same month last year.

The rise in registrations signals growing investor confidence in Pakistan’s corporate sector, supported by ongoing digital reforms and government-led ease-of-doing-business initiatives.

A key highlight of the registration process was the widespread adoption of technology, as nearly 99.9% of companies were incorporated through SECP’s online portal, “eZfile.”

This underscores the regulator’s push toward digitization and efficiency. With these additions, the total number of registered companies in Pakistan has reached 290,041, marking continued expansion of the formal corporate landscape.

In terms of capital formation, the newly registered companies brought in a combined paid-up capital of Rs2.80 billion, indicating sustained investment activity across diverse sectors of the economy.

From a structural perspective, private limited companies dominated the registrations, accounting for 57% of the total.

Single-member companies followed with a 39% share, while the remaining 4% comprised public unlisted companies, not-for-profit organizations, and limited liability partnerships, reflecting a broad mix of business structures.

Regionally, Punjab led the way with 1,488 new companies, followed by Islamabad with 552, Sindh with 447, Gilgit-Baltistan with 233, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 224, and Balochistan with 49 companies, highlighting geographically widespread entrepreneurial activity.

Sector-wise, the IT and e-commerce segment remained the frontrunner, with 606 new companies registered, reflecting Pakistan’s ongoing digital shift.

This was followed by the trading sector with 542 companies, services with 366, and real estate and construction with 264 registrations.

Other active sectors included tourism, food, education, textiles, agriculture, marketing, healthcare, and energy, indicating that new business formation is taking place across nearly all segments of the economy.

On the foreign investment front, the outlook remained encouraging, with 58 new companies receiving international investment.

Notably, China emerged as the leading contributor, with investment in 28 companies. Investors from countries including Afghanistan, the United Kingdom, Russia, Norway, Germany, Japan, the United States, Canada, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia also showed interest in Pakistan’s corporate sector.

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