ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s corporate sector opened 2026 on a strong note, with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registering 3,881 new companies during January. Most of the new businesses were in the Information Technology and e-commerce sectors, reflecting the growing shift towards digital and service-based enterprises across the country.
According to official data released by the SECP, IT and e-commerce led the way with 729 new companies, followed by trading, services, and real estate development. The registrations were completed with a combined paid-up capital of Rs8.4 billion, taking the total number of registered companies in Pakistan to 283,540.
Foreign interest also remained visible during the month. A total of 82 newly incorporated companies received foreign investment from individuals and entities based in countries including China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Australia, South Korea, Germany, Malaysia, and several others.
The SECP noted that nearly all company registrations, 99.9% were completed through its online eZfile system, highlighting the growing reliance on digital platforms for business formalities.
In terms of ownership structure, private limited companies continued to dominate, accounting for 59% of new registrations. Single-member companies made up 38%, while the remaining three per cent consisted of public unlisted firms, not-for-profit organizations, and limited liability partnerships.
Punjab recorded the highest number of new companies with 1,998 registrations, representing more than half of the total. Islamabad Capital Territory followed with 747 new companies, while Sindh registered 601. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa saw 343 incorporations, Gilgit-Baltistan 127, and Balochistan 65.
Beyond IT and e-commerce, strong activity was also reported in trading, services, and real estate development and construction.
Other sectors contributing to the growth included tourism and transport, food and beverages, education, mining and quarrying, marketing and advertising, communications, textiles, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, engineering, fuel and energy, and auto-related industries. Several hundred companies were also registered in smaller sectors such as chemicals, cosmetics, electrical goods, and paper products.
