The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) recorded strong growth in company registrations and foreign investment during February–April 2026, supported by ongoing regulatory and digital reforms.
During the three-month period, 10,511 new companies were incorporated, marking a 21% increase compared to 8,693 registrations in the same period last year. April alone saw 4,082 new incorporations, the highest monthly figure so far.
The regulator also reported a sharp rise in foreign participation. Investors from more than 22 countries established companies in Pakistan, with around 220 firms registered with foreign shareholding. Combined paid-up capital from these companies reached Rs882 million, up from Rs277 million last year — an increase of approximately 218%.
Foreign investment was mainly directed toward services, trading, information technology, construction, and mining sectors. Chinese investors remained among the most active participants in new business registrations.
Compliance activity also strengthened during the period, with the corporate registry receiving 61,960 statutory returns compared to 38,326 in the corresponding period last year, reflecting a 61% increase. The SECP linked this growth to its enforcement drive and awareness campaign focused on regulatory filings and Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) compliance.
In parallel, the SECP continued its digitisation push by moving toward mandatory conversion of physical shares into book-entry form on a transaction basis, aimed at improving transparency in the capital market.
To support new businesses, the regulator also signed agreements with Askari Bank and NayaPay to speed up corporate bank account opening.
As part of its broader reform agenda, the SECP plans to establish Business Facilitation Centres in major cities including Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot, and Faisalabad. It is also working on further automation of company registration processes through AI-based name reservation, digital forms, and enhanced compliance monitoring systems.
