SECP registers over 2,600 new companies in one month

ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 2,617 new companies in September 2024, reflecting a 5.7 per cent increase compared to the same month last year, according to a press release issued by the regulator today.

This brings the total number of registered companies in Pakistan to 231,111.

Of the newly registered companies, 55 per cent were private limited companies, and 41 per cent were single-member companies.

The remaining 4 per cent comprised public unlisted companies, not-for-profit associations, trade organizations, and limited liability partnerships. Almost all companies—99.8 per cent—were registered online, with only 0.2 per cent registering through offline means.

The information technology sector led the registrations with 410 new companies, followed by trading (377), services (306), real estate development and construction (237), tourism and e-commerce (125 each), and food and beverages (112).

Other sectors with notable company registrations included education (101), mining and quarrying (98), and marketing and advertisement (73). Additionally, 82 companies were registered in various other sectors.

Foreign investment was recorded in 61 new companies, with investors primarily from countries such as China, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Malaysia.

The majority of foreign investment came from China, accounting for 43 companies, followed by Turkey with four, Afghanistan with three, Malaysia with two, and one company each from several other countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan.

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