ISLAMABAD — October 5, 2026: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 5,241 new companies in September 2026, taking the total number of registered companies in Pakistan to 317,002, according to data released by the regulator.


The latest registrations highlight continued growth in formal business registrations across Pakistan, with almost all new incorporations completed through digital platforms.


Private limited companies made up the largest category of new registrations, with 3,013 companies, representing 57.5% of all new incorporations.


Single Member Companies (SMCs) were the second-largest category, with 2,058 registrations, accounting for 39.2% of the total.


The remaining registrations included:


| Company Type             | New Registrations | Share

| Private Limited Companies       |3,013 | 57.5%

| Single Member Companies        |2,058 | 39.2%

| Limited Liability Partnerships    |127 | 2.4%

| Section 42 Not-for-Profit Companies |29 | 0.6%

| Public Companies           |10 | 0.2%

| Trade Organizations          |2 | 0.04%

| Foreign Companies           |2 | 0.04%


Punjab Leads New Company Registrations


Punjab recorded the highest number of new company registrations during September, with 2,740 companies, accounting for 52.3% of the national total.


Islamabad Capital Territory ranked second with 1,009 registrations, followed by Sindh with 790.


The regional breakdown was:


Punjab:2,740 — 52.3%

Islamabad Capital Territory:1,009 — 19.2%

Sindh:790 — 15.1%

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:428 — 8.2%

Gilgit-Baltistan:169 — 3.2%

Balochistan:105 — 2.0%


Information Technology Sector Tops New Incorporations


The Information Technology sector recorded the highest number of new company registrations in September, with 920 incorporations.


Trading ranked second with 808 registrations, while Services recorded 599.


Other major sectors included:


| Sector          | New Companies

| Information Technology  |      920

| Trading          |      808

| Services         |      599

| Construction       |      339

| Food & Beverages     |      239

| Tourism          |      222

| Real Estate Development |      193

| Education         |      189

| E-Commerce        |      179

| Mining & Quarrying    |      127

| Other sectors       |     1,426


The strong number of registrations in IT, e-commerce and services indicates continued entrepreneurial activity in sectors connected with Pakistan's digital and services economy.


167 Foreign Investors Participate


Foreign investors also participated in companies incorporated during September.


The SECP reported 167 foreign investors from various countries.


China accounted for the largest number, with 113 investors. Other countries included:


United States — 7

United Kingdom — 6

Hong Kong — 5

Singapore — 3

Saudi Arabia — 3

Australia — 2

United Arab Emirates — 2

Türkiye — 2

Germany — 2

Canada — 2

Spain — 2

Thailand — 2

Afghanistan — 2

Other countries — 14


The foreign investors included 10 foreign body corporates, while the remaining investors were individuals.


Female Participation in Companies


The SECP's gender-disaggregated data showed that women accounted for 14% of shareholders and directors, while female representation stood at 11% among ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs).


Women accounted for 8% of chief executives.


Men accounted for the remaining share in each of these categories.


SECP Chairman Highlights Formalization of Economy


SECP Chairman Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu said that company incorporation is an important step toward developing a formal and documented economy.


He said the SECP is working to simplify the registration process and make it more accessible so entrepreneurs can establish businesses and contribute to economic growth.


What the SECP Data Shows


The September figures provide several indications about Pakistan's business environment. The dominance of private limited companies and single-member companies shows that a large proportion of new registrations are coming from entrepreneurs establishing smaller or individually owned businesses.


At the sector level, IT, trading and services accounted for a significant portion of new incorporations, while construction, food and beverages, tourism and e-commerce also recorded substantial activity.


With the total number of registered companies now reaching 317,002, the latest SECP figures show the continued expansion of Pakistan's formal corporate sector.