SECP registers 2,847 new companies in August

Islamabad: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 2,847 new companies in August 2023.

The increase of 20.6% from the same month last year. The total number of registered companies in Pakistan is now 200,629.

The information technology industry accounted for 415 of the new businesses, followed by trading with 392, real estate development and construction with 357, and services with 324. Tourism (125), mining and quarrying (119), e-commerce (111), education (98), food and beverage production (90), and corporate agricultural farming (83) were other industries with a sizable number of new registrations.

Foreign investment was reported in 69 new companies, with the largest amount coming from China (33 companies). Other countries with significant investment included the United States (9 companies), Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates (4 companies each), and Australia, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Norway, Russia, and Saudi Arabia (2 companies each).

The SECP's WhatsApp service handled 1,305 queries related to name availability and incorporation in August, with an overall satisfaction rate of 96%.