SECP registers 5,241 new companies in September

IT leads with 920 new incorporations, trading 808, services 599, construction 339, food and beverages 239, tourism 222, real estate 193, education 189 and e-commerce 179. ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 5,241 new companies in September 2026, bringing the total number of registered companies in the country to 317,002. As many as 99.9% of the new registrations were completed online through the SECP's eZfile portal and integrated federal and provincial systems. Private limited companies accounted for the largest share of new incorporations, with 3,013 companies (57.5%), followed by 2,058 single-member companies (39.2%). The SECP also registered 127 limited liability partnerships (2.4%) and 29 Section 42 not-for-profit companies (0.6%). The remaining 14 entities (0.3%) comprised 10 public companies, two trade organisations and two foreign companies. Punjab accounted for 2,740 new registrations (52.3%), followed by Islamabad Capital Territory with 1,009 (19.2%), Sindh with 790 (15.1%), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 428 (8.2%), Gilgit-Baltistan with 169 (3.2%) and Balochistan with 105 (2.0%). The information technology sector recorded the highest number of new incorporations at 920, followed by trading (808), services (599), construction (339), food and beverages (239), tourism (222), real estate development (193), education (189), e-commerce (179) and mining and quarrying (127). Companies in other sectors accounted for 1,426 incorporations. A total of 167 foreign investors from various countries participated in newly incorporated companies during September. China accounted for the largest number, with 113 investors, followed by the United States (7), the United Kingdom (6), Hong Kong (5), Singapore (3) and Saudi Arabia (3). Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, Germany, Canada, Spain, Thailand and Afghanistan each accounted for two investors, while investors from other countries numbered 14. The foreign investors included 10 foreign corporate entities, with the remainder comprising individual investors. Gender-disaggregated data showed that women accounted for 14% of shareholders and directors, 11% of ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs) and 8% of chief executives. Men accounted for the remaining share in each category. SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu said, "Company incorporation is an important step towards building a formal, documented economy. We are working to make the registration process simpler and more accessible, enabling entrepreneurs to establish businesses and contribute to economic growth."