ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered more than 35,000 companies in the fiscal year 2025—its highest-ever tally for a single year—driven by a series of reforms aimed at digitization and improved ease of doing business.
The total number of companies in the national registry now exceeds 258,000. According to SECP data, online registrations accounted for 99.9% of incorporations, marking a 27% increase from FY24. Monthly incorporation records were also set in January and May, with 3,442 and 3,605 companies registered, respectively.
The regulator upgraded its eZfile platform during the year, introducing mandatory digital verification for changes in company management. Cybersecurity guidelines were also issued to accompany the platform enhancements.
SECP introduced the Electronic Mortgage Register (EMR) to facilitate real-time access to mortgage data by financial institutions. The Commission is also developing new features such as AI-assisted company registration and same-day bank account integration.
Effective March 3, all new companies are required to issue dematerialized shares, a move aimed at reducing ownership disputes. SECP also initiated updates aligned with the World Bank’s B-Ready framework, which include gender-based data collection and Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) verification protocols.
Proposed regulatory amendments include making the Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN) mandatory for ICMAP members and expanding cost audit requirements to include the automobile sector.
In the World Bank’s B-Ready 2024 report, Pakistan was ranked 6th among 50 economies on the ‘Business Entry’ indicator, a metric assessing the efficiency of company formation processes.
To assist new and existing companies, SECP established a dedicated facilitation desk, conducted over 100 awareness sessions, and produced educational content. Additional guides are being developed on employee stock ownership schemes (ESOS), stock splits, and capital issuance.
SECP’s technology transformation efforts also include the LEAP project and SECP-XS platform for digital services. A Corporate Registration Manual is under preparation to harmonize procedures across all Company Registration Offices.
