SECP registers 3,161 new companies in May, total reaches 297,239

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 3,161 new companies in May 2026, taking the total number of registered companies in the country to 297,239, according to a statement issued on Tuesday.

The SECP said 99.9% of the companies registered during the month were incorporated online, despite reduced working days due to Eidul Azha holidays.

During May, the commission also registered 415 companies in a single day, the highest number of company incorporations recorded in its history.

Punjab accounted for the largest share of new registrations, with 1,643 companies, or 52% of the total.

Islamabad Capital Territory followed with 596 registrations, or 19%, while Sindh recorded 479 registrations, making up 15% of the total.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa registered 260 companies, or 8%, followed by Gilgit-Baltistan with 112 registrations, or 4%, and Balochistan with 71 registrations, or 2%.

Private limited companies remained the most preferred corporate structure, with 1,884 registrations, or 60% of the total.

Single-member companies accounted for 1,212 registrations, or about 38%, reflecting continued formalisation of individual and small-scale businesses.

Limited liability partnerships and other categories made up the remaining 65 registrations, or 2%.

Sector-wise, information technology and e-commerce led new incorporations with 598 companies.

Trading followed with 503 companies, services with 404, and real estate development and construction with 303.

The tourism and transport sector also recorded 206 new company registrations during the month.

Foreign participation was recorded in 80 local companies from investors based in 17 countries.

China led foreign investor participation with 89 shareholders, followed by Afghanistan with five, the United States with three, and Belgium, Russia and South Korea with two shareholders each, among others.

Foreign investors contributed total paid-up capital of Rs139.4 million during the month.

Chinese investors accounted for the largest share of foreign paid-up capital, contributing Rs132.3 million.