In May, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 1,094 new companies

Compared with the corresponding month of the past financial year, this represents a growth of 17 percent, as a result of which the total number of registered companies rose to 86,876. The enormous increase is the result of the various reform measures of the SECP, i.e. introduction of a simplified combined process for reservation and incorporation of names, reduction of costs, assistance with admission by facilitating wings of CROs, etc.

Approximately 76 percent of the companies were registered as a private company with limited liability, while about 22 percent were registered as sole traders. Two percent were registered as public non-listed non-profit organizations and foreign companies

The trade sector took the lead with the establishment of 178 companies, services with 153, information technology with 135, construction with 132, tourism with 42, food and drinks with 39, real estate development with 36, education with 33, engineering with 32, agricultural agriculture with 26, transport with 21, textile, pharmaceuticals and marketing & adversion with 19 each, car and connected with 18, broadcasting and telecasting with 16, chemistry, fuel and energy and health care with 12 each, communication and power generation with 11 and 118 companies each in other sectors.

In addition, 5 foreign companies are also registered by CRO Islamabad and Karachi.

Foreign investments have been reported at 56 new companies. These companies have foreign investors from Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Iran, Jordan, Korea (South), Lebanon, Nepal, the Netherlands, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Tanzania, Turkey, Ukraine and the US

The highest numbers of companies, i.e. 402, were registered in Islamabad, followed by 271 and 226 companies registered in Lahore and Karachi, respectively. The CRO & # 39; s in Peshawar, Multan, Gilgit-Baltistan Faisalabad, Quetta and Sukkur respectively, 60, 42, 39, 31, 14 and 9 companies.