The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 3,278 new companies in August 2025, reflecting continued momentum in entrepreneurship and business formalization. Nearly all of these incorporations, an impressive 99.9%, were processed through SECP’s digital platform, showcasing the regulator’s strong focus on technology-driven efficiency. With this addition, the total number of registered companies in Pakistan has now reached 265,587, highlighting a steady expansion of the corporate sector.
The total paid-up capital of newly registered companies during the month amounted to Rs. 7.74 billion, underlining the financial depth being added to the economy through formalized business activity. A breakdown of the incorporations shows that private limited companies made up the majority at 59%, while single-member companies accounted for 39%. The remaining 4% were spread across public unlisted companies, not-for-profit organizations, and limited liability partnerships.
The Information Technology and e-commerce sectors were once again at the forefront, recording 670 new incorporations in August. This trend highlights how digital enterprises are emerging as central to Pakistan’s economic development, particularly as more entrepreneurs look toward online platforms and technology-driven business models. Other leading sectors included trading with 413 new firms, services with 394, and real estate development and construction with 297.
Several other industries also showed healthy participation, signaling broad-based economic diversification. Tourism and transport saw 242 new entrants, followed by food and beverages with 185, education with 150, mining and quarrying with 77, textiles with 76, pharmaceuticals with 69, and cosmetics and toiletries with 66. Marketing and advertisement brought in 65 companies, while agricultural farming and engineering each saw 49 new registrations. The chemical sector accounted for 48, and healthcare for 44. Beyond these, 383 companies were registered across a wide range of areas, including fuel and energy, Section 42 non-profits, auto and allied, power generation, steel and allied, sports, logging, and communications.
Foreign investment also contributed positively, with 78 newly incorporated companies receiving capital from international investors across diverse jurisdictions. This demonstrates sustained foreign interest in Pakistan’s business environment despite broader global uncertainties.
Alongside company incorporations, the SECP issued 37 licenses during August in multiple regulatory domains. These included five licenses in capital markets, four for non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), and twenty-eight for not-for-profit associations. This licensing activity reflects SECP’s broader mandate to regulate and enable diverse financial and corporate institutions while supporting inclusive growth.
The SECP has also launched a nationwide awareness drive to promote the benefits of company incorporation. Among the highlighted advantages are limited liability, recognition as a separate legal entity, enhanced credibility, perpetual succession, structured governance frameworks, improved tax efficiency, greater access to finance, and stronger brand protection. By encouraging incorporation, the SECP seeks to build a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem while protecting investors and stakeholders.
Committed to streamlining processes, the regulator continues to strengthen its digital infrastructure, ensuring faster registration, improved compliance mechanisms, and easier regulatory navigation for entrepreneurs. By combining digital transformation with regulatory facilitation, SECP is positioning itself as a critical enabler of business growth, foreign investment, and long-term economic sustainability in Pakistan.
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