ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 5,003 new companies in October 2026, bringing the total number of registered companies in the country to 321,794, according to a press release issued by the regulator.

The latest registrations highlight continued growth in Pakistan's corporate sector, with the Information Technology industry recording the highest number of new incorporations during the month.

The SECP said its eZfile portal, integrated with federal and provincial systems, enabled 99.9% of new company registrations to be completed online.


Private Limited Companies Account for 55.4% of New Registrations

Private limited companies accounted for the largest share of new incorporations in October 2026, with 2,773 registrations, representing 55.4% of the total.

Single-member companies were the second-largest category, with 2,079 registrations, accounting for 41.6% of newly registered entities.

The remaining registrations included limited liability partnerships, not-for-profit companies and other entities.


IT Sector Leads Company Registrations in Pakistan

The Information Technology sector recorded the highest number of new company registrations in October, with 991 incorporations.

Trading and services also recorded significant activity, reflecting the continued diversity of businesses entering Pakistan's formal corporate sector.

The top sectors by new company registrations were:

Information Technology 991

Trading 767

Services 594

Construction 295

Food and Beverages 219

Tourism 213

Real Estate Development 170

E-Commerce 170

Education 152

Textile 113

Other Sectors 1,319

The IT sector's leading position highlights its importance within Pakistan's corporate registration activity. Trading and services followed, while construction, food and beverages, tourism and e-commerce also contributed to new incorporations.


Punjab Records the Highest Number of New Companies

Punjab accounted for more than half of all new company registrations in October 2026, recording 2,663 incorporations or 53.2% of the total.

Islamabad Capital Territory ranked second with 934 new companies, representing 18.7%, followed by Sindh with 751 registrations.

The province-wise distribution was as follows:

Punjab 2,663

Islamabad Capital Territory 934

Sindh 751

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 382

Gilgit-Baltistan 162

Balochistan 111

Total 5,003

Punjab maintained the largest share of company incorporations, while Islamabad Capital Territory also recorded a substantial number of new registrations.


Foreign Investors Participate in New Company Incorporations

The SECP reported participation from 173 foreign investors in newly incorporated companies during October 2026.

China accounted for the largest number of foreign investors, with 129 investors, followed by Germany with six, the United States with five and the United Kingdom with three.

Investors from Turkey, Canada, Brazil, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands accounted for two investors each. A further 14 investors came from other countries.

The foreign investor group included five foreign body corporates, while the remaining 168 were individual investors.


Female Representation in Corporate Leadership

The SECP's gender-wise data covering shareholders, ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs), directors and chief executives showed that males constituted the majority across all categories.

Female representation was highest among shareholders and directors, at 13% each. Women accounted for 11% of ultimate beneficial owners and 8% of chief executives.

The figures provide an overview of gender representation within the ownership and leadership structures of newly registered companies.


Pakistan's Total Registered Companies Reach 321,794

With 5,003 new companies registered in October 2026, Pakistan's total number of registered companies reached 321,794.

The SECP's latest figures reflect continued corporate registration activity across multiple sectors, including IT, trading, services, construction, tourism and e-commerce.

The regulator's digital incorporation system has also facilitated the online registration of nearly all newly established companies, making the incorporation process more accessible.


Source: Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), Press Release dated November 5, 2026.