SECP registers 1,760 companies in April 2023.

ISLAMABAD -- The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 1,760 new companies in April 2023, bringing the total number of registered companies to 191,924.

The total paid-up capital (capitalization) of the companies incorporated in April was Rs 2.9 billion, said a press release issued here.

Approximately 57 percent of businesses were registered as private limited companies, 41 percent as single-member businesses, and 2 percent of companies were registered as limited liability partnerships, not-for-profit organizations, and unlisted public companies (LLP). Nearly 99.8% of businesses were registered online. The new registrations also included 70 foreign applicants.

Foreign investment has been reported in 67 new companies, having foreign investors from Afghanistan, Canada, China, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Germany, Hong Kong, Iran, Japan, Jordan South Korea, the Netherlands, Singapore, Slovakia Republic, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, the UK and the US. A major chunk of investment was received from China with 36 companies, Germany, and South Korea with 04 each, Hong Kong, Turkey, South Africa, the UK and the US with two each, and 13 companies from other countries.

The information technology sector took the lead with incorporation with 267 Companies, real estate development and construction with 228, trading with 222, services with...