Pakistan records 24pc rise in company registrations in FY2025-26: SECP

WEB DESK: Pakistan witnessed a sharp increase in company registrations during the fiscal year 2025-26, with the number of newly incorporated firms rising by 24pc compared to the previous year, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP).

The regulator said the total number of registered companies in the country had reached 301,615 by the end of the fiscal year, reflecting continued expansion of the corporate sector. In June alone, 4,323 new companies were registered, the highest monthly figure on record.

Regional growth led by Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan

The SECP said public sector company registrations also increased by 25pc during the year.

Punjab recorded the highest number of new company registrations, with 22,364 firms incorporated, followed by Sindh with 6,691 and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 3,820.

Gilgit-Baltistan posted the strongest growth rate, with company registrations increasing by 65pc to 1,585, while Balochistan recorded a 36pc rise, with 759 new companies registered. The regulator said the highest growth in registrations was recorded in Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan.

Foreign investment shows momentum

According to the SECP, the trading sector accounted for the largest share of new incorporations, representing 41pc of all newly registered companies during the fiscal year.

The regulator also reported a notable increase in foreign investment in Pakistan’s corporate sector. Foreign investors registered 1,014 new companies, with a combined paid-up capital of Rs2.5b.

Most foreign-backed companies were established in the trading, mining and information technology sectors. Chinese investors registered the highest number of companies, while investors from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and Spain also incorporated new businesses in Pakistan, the SECP said.