ISLAMABAD, April 13, 2026 – Pakistan’s corporate sector continued to expand in March, with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan registering 2,993 new companies, reflecting sustained investor interest despite a monthly slowdown.
The latest figures show registrations declined about 13% from 3,444 companies in February 2026, but rose 11% compared with 2,757 companies registered in March last year, indicating steady year-on-year growth.
The SECP said the increase highlights improving investor confidence and the regulator’s ongoing efforts to promote ease of doing business through digital transformation. Nearly all new incorporations—around 99.9%—were completed online via the commission’s eZfile portal, underscoring the shift toward a paperless registration system.
With the latest additions, the total number of registered companies in Pakistan has reached 290,041. The total paid-up capital of newly registered firms stood at Rs2.80 billion, pointing to continued investment activity across multiple sectors.
Private limited companies accounted for the largest share of new registrations at 57%, followed by single-member companies at 39%. The remaining 4% comprised public unlisted companies, not-for-profit organizations and limited liability partnerships.
Regionally, Punjab led the tally with 1,488 new companies, followed by Islamabad Capital Territory with 552 and Sindh with 447. Smaller contributions came from Gilgit-Baltistan (233), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (224) and Balochistan (49), reflecting broad-based geographic participation in business formation.
Sector-wise, information technology and e-commerce remained the most active segment, adding 606 new companies during the month. The trading sector followed with 542 registrations, while services and real estate development and construction recorded 366 and 264 new firms, respectively.
Other notable sectors included tourism and transport, food and beverages, education and textiles, alongside emerging activity in mining, agriculture, healthcare and pharmaceuticals.
Foreign investment in newly registered companies remained positive, with 58 firms receiving overseas capital in March. Although lower than 82 in February, the inflows were led by China, followed by Afghanistan, the United Kingdom and several other countries, indicating continued international interest in Pakistan’s corporate landscape.
The SECP said it will continue to streamline processes and enhance digital services to support business growth and attract both domestic and foreign investment.