Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan reports record FY 2025 incorporations and new digital corporate registry measures

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) published an update on its FY 2025 corporate registry reforms and digital transformation, reporting record company incorporations and expanded online processing across the registry. More than 35,000 companies were incorporated during FY 2025, with monthly peaks in January (3,442) and May (3,605). The corporate registry exceeded 258,000 companies and 99.9% of incorporations were processed online, representing 27% year-on-year growth versus FY 2024. Upgrades to the eZfile platform include mandatory digital verification for management changes and the issuance of cybersecurity guidelines, while the new Electronic Mortgage Register enables financial institutions to access mortgage data in real time. Measures and workstreams cited include the requirement from 3 March 2025 for newly incorporated companies to issue shares in dematerialized form, implementation of gender-based data and Ultimate Beneficial Owner verification aligned to World Bank B-Ready requirements, and proposed draft amendments to make UDIN mandatory for ICMAP members and extend the Cost Audit Regulations to the automobile sector. Further enhancements under development include same-day bank account integration and an AI-based incorporation feature, alongside finalisation of a Corporate Registration Manual to standardise procedures across Company Registration Offices.