Islamabad, January 8, 2026 – The Director General Trade Organizations (DGTO), Bilal Khan Pasha, has set January 12, 2026, as the final deadline for all trade bodies across Pakistan to submit mandatory documentation for the renewal of their licenses, including audited financial statements for the year 2025.
According to the DGTO, licenses issued to Trade Organizations (TOs) under Section 3 of the Trade Organizations Act, 2013 remain valid only if continuous compliance with the law and its rules is ensured. Any violation may result in license cancellation under Section 7 of the Act.
Under Rule 22 of the Trade Organizations Rules, 2013, licensed TOs are legally required to submit annual audited financial statements approved by their Executive Committee, a detailed plan of proposed activities and finances for the upcoming year under Rule 23, and complete membership records as of November 30 to verify their representative status under Rule 3.
The DGTO noted that the statutory deadline of December 31, 2025, has already passed, and several trade bodies have failed to meet these reporting requirements. Such non-compliance constitutes a serious legal violation, triggering action under Sections 7(1)(h) and 7(1)(f) for failure to discharge statutory obligations and non-compliance with lawful directives.
Trade bodies have been warned that license cancellation will automatically revoke their registration under the Companies Act, leading to immediate winding up of affairs under Section 8. Additionally, penalties of up to Rs100,000 may be imposed under Section 25, with personal liability placed on directors and office-bearers under Section 26.
Office-bearers of defaulting organizations may also face a three-year disqualification from holding office in any trade body.
The DGTO has directed all defaulting TOs to submit complete documentation within seven days, warning that failure to comply will result in immediate show-cause notices and penalties without further correspondence.