KARACHI, November 5, 2026: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 5,003 new companies in October 2026, with the information technology sector accounting for the largest share of registrations and foreign investors also participating in newly incorporated businesses.
The latest registrations increased the total number of companies registered with the SECP to 321,794, while 99.9 percent of new incorporations were completed online, reflecting the growing use of digital business registration services.
According to the SECP, private limited companies accounted for 55.4 percent of new registrations, followed by single-member companies at 41.6 percent.
Punjab recorded the highest number of incorporations, with 2,663 new companies, followed by Islamabad with 934 and Sindh with 751.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa registered 382 companies, Gilgit-Baltistan 162 and Balochistan 111 during the month.
The information technology sector led company formation with 991 registrations, followed by trading with 767 and services with 594.
Construction accounted for 295 new companies, while 219 were registered in food and beverages, 213 in tourism and 170 in real estate.
The figures indicate continued business formation across technology, commercial services, construction and consumer-related industries.
Foreign participation was also recorded during the month, with 173 foreign investors becoming directors of newly registered companies.
Women accounted for 13 percent of shareholders and directors associated with the new registrations, according to the regulator.
SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Sidhu described the increase in company registrations as an indication of growing investment activity in the country.
He said the commission was working to make business operations easier by digitising corporate compliance procedures, reducing administrative requirements and improving access to regulatory services.
Sidhu also highlighted the potential economic benefits of new business formation, saying that the establishment of more companies could create additional employment opportunities.
The SECP has been expanding digital registration and compliance services as part of efforts to simplify corporate procedures and encourage businesses to enter the formal economy.