ISLAMABAD: Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has issued guidelines for license renewal in order to facilitate companies considering difficulties due to COVID-19.
The SECP issued Circular No. 19/2020 for extension in time for renewal of licenses due to COVID-19.
The regulator said that the COVID-19 (coronavirus) had affected many businesses around the globe and had been declared as pandemic.
In order to facilitate the shareholders/directors/employees during this ongoing pandemic, the SECP issued the guidelines regarding renewal of their licenses, issued in pursuance of section 42 of the Company Law.
The SECP said that the companies whose license were due for renewal before the month of February 2020, and had not applied for renewal, their license shall be revoked in accordance with the provision of Section 42(5) of the Companies Act, 2017.
The SECP further said that the companies whose license had been expired in the months of February, March, April and May 2020 but had not applied for its renewal would continue to carry on their business and their license would not be revoked till June 30, 2020. However, upon receipt of their applications, license shall be renewed from the date of expiry of their existing license.
The regulator further said that the companies, which had applied for renewal of their license either before or after February 01, 2020 and certain deficiencies were also communicated to them, were required to respond to the quarries latest by May 30, 2020, failing which their license would be revoked.
“Companies, which do not find any difficulty in complying with the requirements of the renewal of their license, may apply in a routine manner,” the SECP said.
