The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has set new benchmarks in corporate registry reforms and digital transformation during fiscal year 2025, recording over 35,000 new company incorporations, the highest ever in a single year.
January and May saw record monthly registrations, with 3,442 and 3,605 new companies added, respectively. The total number of companies in the registry has now surpassed 258,000, with an impressive 99.9 percent of new registrations completed online. This represents a 27 percent increase in company registrations compared to the previous financial year.
To further streamline business processes, SECP has significantly upgraded its eZfile platform, introducing mandatory digital verification for management changes and issuing new cybersecurity guidelines. The launch of the Electronic Mortgage Register (EMR) now allows financial institutions real-time access to mortgage data. SECP is also working on same-day bank account integration and developing an AI-powered company incorporation feature to make registration even faster and easier.
Effective March 3, 2025, all newly incorporated companies are required to issue shares in dematerialized form, a move aimed at reducing ownership disputes. In line with the World Bank’s B-Ready requirements, SECP is updating its systems to include gender-based data and Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) verification.
Draft amendments to the Auditors’ Regulations have been proposed, making Unique Document Identification Numbers (UDIN) mandatory for ICMAP members and extending cost audit requirements to the automobile sector.
Pakistan’s efforts have been recognized globally, with the country ranking 6th out of 50 economies in the World Bank’s B-Ready 2024 ‘Business Entry’ indicator. SECP has also established a dedicated facilitation desk for licensing and corporate queries, conducted over 100 awareness sessions, and released user guides and instructional videos, with more resources on ESOS, stock splits, and capital issuance in the pipeline.
Innovation remains a priority, as SECP continues to advance its LEAP project and the SECP-XS platform, which provides omni-channel digital services. A comprehensive Corporate Registration Manual is also being finalized to standardize procedures across all Company Registration Offices (CROs).
