The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) reported robust activity in the corporate sector with the registration of 3,881 new companies in January 2026. This surge reflects a continued trend of entrepreneurial growth and increased investor confidence in the country’s business environment. A significant highlight of the month was the attraction of foreign investment, with 82 newly incorporated companies receiving capital from investors representing China, the United States, Afghanistan, Australia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Palau, South Africa, Albania, Denmark, Germany, Malaysia, South Korea, Spain, and Ukraine.
The incorporation process demonstrated a strong digital adoption, as 99.9% of registrations were completed online through SECP’s eZfile system. This move underscores the regulator’s ongoing efforts to streamline corporate formalities and promote ease of doing business, enabling faster and more efficient company formation across Pakistan.
In total, the newly registered companies brought in a cumulative paid-up capital of Rs8.4 billion, increasing the total number of registered companies in the country to 283,540. Private limited companies constituted the majority of new incorporations at 59%, while single-member companies accounted for 38%. The remaining 3% of newly registered entities comprised public unlisted companies, not-for-profit organizations, and limited liability partnerships, highlighting diversity in corporate structures and business models.
Geographically, Punjab led in corporate registrations, accounting for 1,998 new companies or 52% of the total. Islamabad Capital Territory followed with 747 incorporations (19%), Sindh contributed 601 (15%), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa added 343 (9%), Gilgit-Baltistan recorded 127 (3%), and Balochistan had 65 new registrations (2%). These figures indicate a concentrated but increasingly distributed growth pattern across Pakistan’s provinces, reflecting rising business activity beyond traditional economic hubs.
Sectorally, the information technology and e-commerce sectors led corporate growth with 729 new companies, followed by trading at 613 and services at 494. Real estate development and construction contributed 347 new registrations, while tourism and transport accounted for 234. Other notable sectors included food and beverages (183), education (145), mining and quarrying (100), marketing and advertising (95), communications (83), textiles (77), corporate agricultural farming (75), pharmaceuticals (65), healthcare (62), engineering (60), fuel and energy (55), and auto and allied industries (45). Additionally, 419 companies were registered across miscellaneous sectors such as chemicals, cosmetics, toiletries, cables, electrical goods, and paper and board.
The January data highlights the resilience and dynamism of Pakistan’s corporate sector, particularly in high-growth segments such as IT, e-commerce, and services. The inflow of foreign capital reinforces the country’s appeal as an investment destination, while digital registration processes enhance operational efficiency. Analysts suggest that this growth trajectory is likely to continue as regulatory improvements, technological integration, and entrepreneurial momentum converge to strengthen the nation’s business ecosystem.
The SECP’s focus on facilitating digital incorporations, coupled with a diverse sectoral and geographic spread of new companies, demonstrates Pakistan’s ongoing commitment to promoting business formalization, investor confidence, and economic expansion in line with global best practices.
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