The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has registered 10,511 new companies during February–April 2026, reflecting a 21 percent increase compared to 8,693 companies incorporated during the same period last year.
Around 220 companies were registered with foreign shareholding, with cumulative paid-up capital reaching Rs882 million, compared to Rs277 million in the corresponding period last year, marking an increase of approximately 218 percent.
In April alone, 4,082 companies were registered; the highest monthly incorporation figure recorded by the regulator.
According to official data, investors from more than 22 countries established companies in Pakistan during the period.
Foreign investment was largely concentrated in trading, services, information technology, construction, and mining sectors, with Chinese investors remaining among the most active foreign participants.
The SECP also reported strong improvement in corporate compliance filings amid enhanced enforcement measures. The corporate registry received 61,960 statutory returns during the period, compared to 38,326 returns filed in the same period last year (+61 percent).
To improve compliance, the regulator launched a nationwide campaign encouraging companies to submit statutory returns, with particular focus on Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) disclosure requirements.
In a separate development, the SECP issued a notification mandating the replacement of physical shares with book-entry form on a share-transaction basis to promote digitisation and transparency in the corporate sector.
The regulator also signed memorandums of understanding with Askari Bank and NayaPay to enable faster bank account opening for newly incorporated companies.
SECP also plans to establish Business Facilitation Centres in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot, and Faisalabad to improve access to corporate services nationwide.
Companies that only exist on paper . Funnily enough many countries with questionable rules have such companies