Company registration in Pakistan is handled online through the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) eServices portal. The incorporation itself is quick when documents are in order. Most delays come from choosing the wrong structure or skipping the steps that follow incorporation.
1. Choose the structure
- Single Member Company (SMC): one shareholder, limited liability, simpler governance. Suits sole founders.
- Private limited company: two or more shareholders. Suits co-founders and businesses planning to take on investors.
- Branch or liaison office of a foreign company: for overseas companies operating in Pakistan without a local subsidiary.
- Partnership or sole proprietorship: not a company, with no limited liability, but simpler to run. Registration is with the provincial registrar and the FBR.
2. Reserve the name
The proposed name must be available and must not be identical or too similar to an existing company or trademark. SECP checks this when you apply. Prepare two or three options.
3. Prepare the incorporation documents
You will need the memorandum and articles of association, details and identity documents of subscribers and directors, the registered office address, and declarations of beneficial ownership. Foreign subscribers usually need passport copies and may be subject to security clearance.
4. File on SECP eServices
The application and prescribed fee are submitted online. Once approved, SECP issues a certificate of incorporation with the company's corporate unique identification number (CUIN).
5. Complete the post-incorporation steps
This is where new companies most often fall behind:
- Register for income tax (NTN) on IRIS.
- Register for sales tax with the FBR if you supply taxable goods, and with the provincial revenue authority if you provide taxable services.
- Open a corporate bank account.
- Set up statutory registers, appoint an auditor where required, and diarise annual filing dates.
6. Keep the company compliant
Every company has recurring obligations to the SECP, such as annual returns, as well as monthly and annual tax filings. Penalties for missed filings grow over time, so it is worth putting a compliance calendar in place from the first month.
This guide is general information. Fees, forms and procedures change through SECP circulars and the Finance Act. Contact us to confirm the current requirements for your company.