Islamabad: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has registered more than 35,000 new companies during the fiscal year 2025 (FY25), pushing the total number of companies in the national registry to over 258,000—a historic high for the country’s corporate sector.
This record-breaking performance reflects a 27% increase in incorporations compared to FY24, largely attributed to the SECP’s continued push for digitization, ease of doing business, and regulatory reforms.
According to official data, 99.9% of the companies were registered online, highlighting the widespread adoption of SECP’s digital platforms. The regulator recorded its highest monthly incorporation figures in January and May, registering 3,442 and 3,605 companies respectively—setting new benchmarks for monthly performance.
To streamline the company formation process, SECP significantly upgraded its eZfile platform, introducing mandatory digital verification for changes in company management. The platform updates were complemented by cybersecurity guidelines to ensure safe and secure digital interactions for stakeholders.
SECP is also developing innovative tools, including AI-assisted company registration and same-day bank account integration, which are expected to make the incorporation process faster and more seamless for new businesses.
New Requirements and Global Recognition
Effective March 3, 2025, all newly registered companies are required to issue dematerialized shares, a move aimed at reducing disputes related to ownership and increasing market transparency.
SECP has also aligned several of its reforms with the World Bank’s B-Ready framework, which assesses economies on ease of business formation. Notably, Pakistan ranked 6th out of 50 economies in the ‘Business Entry’ indicator of the B-Ready 2024 report—highlighting the country’s improved performance in regulatory efficiency.
To further bolster transparency and compliance, the SECP introduced Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) verification protocols and began collecting gender-disaggregated data to better understand the demographic breakdown of new business owners.
Additionally, the launch of the Electronic Mortgage Register (EMR) now enables real-time access to mortgage-related information for financial institutions, improving transparency in financial transactions and supporting credit access for businesses.
Among proposed amendments, the SECP has recommended making the Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN) mandatory for members of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMAP). It also aims to extend cost audit requirements to sectors like the automobile industry, reinforcing financial accountability.
To support the growing business community, SECP established a dedicated facilitation desk and held over 100 awareness sessions during the year. A wide range of educational materials, including videos and detailed guides, were also released to help entrepreneurs navigate regulatory requirements. Additional resources are currently in development on employee stock ownership schemes (ESOS), stock splits, and capital issuance procedures.
Technology Transformation Underway
The SECP’s broader technology upgrade is being driven through initiatives such as the LEAP project and SECP-XS platform, which aim to centralize and digitize service delivery. The Commission is also finalizing a Corporate Registration Manual to standardize processes across all Company Registration Offices (CROs) in Pakistan. With these efforts, the SECP continues to establish itself as a modern, facilitative regulator that is actively fostering a business-friendly environment and encouraging the formalization of enterprises across the country.
Samra Zulfiqar, a real estate analyst at Zameen.com, is passionate about finding projects that offer buyers the best returns. Her keen insights spotlight the market’s most promising opportunities.
