Company Registration in Pakistan
Complete SECP company registration in Pakistan, end-to-end — name reservation, MoA & AoA, certificate of incorporation, NTN, and sales tax registration. Most clients are ready to operate within 7 working days.
From name reservation to certificate of incorporation, online with clean documents.
Permitted in most sectors. Apostilled passports and FDI registration handled end-to-end.
SECP, NTN, and STRN in a single engagement — one team, one timeline.
What is company registration in Pakistan?
Company registration in Pakistan is the legal process of incorporating a business as a separate corporate entity under the Companies Act 2017. Once registered, the company becomes a distinct legal person — separate from its owners — capable of owning property, signing contracts, suing, and being sued in its own name. The Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) is the sole authority that registers companies, maintains the register, and enforces ongoing compliance.
Three reasons drive most decisions to incorporate: limited liability protects your personal assets if the business is sued; bank accounts and credit require an SECP-registered entity at most major banks; and credibility with clientsincreasingly matters for government tenders, large corporates, and foreign clients. Sole proprietorships remain available, but they don't offer the legal separation a registered company provides.
Types of companies you can register in Pakistan
Pakistan recognises five main entity types under the Companies Act 2017. Most founders choose between SMC and Pvt Ltd.
| Entity type | Members | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Single Member Company (SMC) | 1 shareholder | Solo founders wanting limited liability without co-founders |
| Private Limited (Pvt Ltd) | 2–50 members | Most SMEs; the default choice for funded businesses |
| Public Limited (Unlisted) | 3+ members | Larger businesses raising private equity |
| Public Limited (Listed) | 7+ members | Companies preparing for PSX listing |
| Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) | 2+ partners | Professional services firms (lawyers, accountants, consultants) |
SECP company registration: step-by-step process
Name reservation
We submit three proposed names through SECP eServices in your priority order. SECP typically approves within 1–2 working days. Once approved, the name is reserved for 60 days.
MoA & AoA drafting
We draft the Memorandum of Association (objectives, capital, liability), the Articles of Association (internal governance), and Forms 1, 21, and 29 — all reconciled to the rupee on share allocation.
Incorporation filing
We upload the documents to SECP eServices and pay the filing fee. SECP issues the Certificate of Incorporation in 4 hours to 2 working days.
Post-incorporation handover
We register the company for NTN with FBR and complete sales tax registration if applicable. Most clients are fully operational within 7 working days, ready to open a corporate bank account with their chosen bank.
Deliverables
Documents required for company registration
Missing or incorrect documents are the most common cause of delays. We provide a tailored checklist after the scoping call.
For each director and shareholder
- CNIC (front and back) for Pakistani nationals
- Passport copy for foreign nationals (apostilled where required)
- Mobile number registered in the director's own name
- Email address
For the company
- Three proposed names in order of priority
- Memorandum of Association, signed by all subscribers
- Articles of Association, signed by all subscribers
- Form 1, Form 21, and Form 29
- Registered office address
Post-incorporation: what comes after the certificate
Receiving the SECP Certificate of Incorporation is the start, not the end. Several registrations need to happen before the company can actually operate. The order matters — banks won't open a corporate account without an NTN, and clients won't pay you without proper invoicing capability.
Every company must register for an NTN with FBRthrough the IRIS portal — this takes 1 to 2 working days and unlocks the corporate bank account, ATL status, and valid invoicing. If you sell taxable goods or services, sales tax registrationis also mandatory — federal under FBR for goods, and provincial under PRA, SRB, KPRA, or BRA for services.
Sector-specific registrations may also apply: PSEB for IT and software export companies (which unlocks tax exemptions), EOBI and Social Security when you hire employees, and provincial professional tax. We complete all of these within the same engagement, with the typical handover taking 7 to 10 working days after the certificate is issued.
Once your company has an NTN, you can verify its filer status anytime using our free Bulk ATL Checker. Being on the FBR Active Taxpayer List gives you significantly lower withholding tax rates on banking, vehicle, and property transactions.
Company registration in Pakistan for foreign nationals
Foreign nationals can register a company in Pakistan as either a wholly-owned subsidiary or a joint venture with Pakistani partners. The general rule is that 100% foreign ownership is permitted in most sectors, with restrictions in defence, broadcasting, and a handful of regulated industries.
Additional steps for foreign-director cases include apostilled or attested passport copies authenticated by the Pakistani embassy, security clearance for certain sectors and nationalities, FDI registration with the State Bank of Pakistan if equity inflow exceeds prescribed limits, and Board of Investment registration. Timelines for foreign-director cases are typically 4 to 8 weeks because of the document authentication chain.
If you're an overseas Pakistani or a foreign national planning to incorporate in Pakistan, talk to our team. We handle the full apostille, FDI, and BOI flow alongside the SECP filing.
Common mistakes during company registration
Each of these slows down or derails incorporations. A one-hour pre-filing review prevents most of them.
Choosing a name without checking trademarks
SECP approves names that conflict with registered trademarks because it doesn't cross-check the IPO database. Check both before committing to branding, signage, or domains.
Setting authorised capital too high
Registration fees scale with authorised capital. Don't set an inflated figure when you only need a modest one — you can increase it later when needed.
Vague MoA objectives
“Any lawful business” gets rejected. Objectives should be specific to your actual activity, with the principal line of business clearly identified.
Mismatched share allocation
The share split in the MoA, AoA, and Form 29 must reconcile to the rupee. Spreadsheet errors here cause rework.
Forgetting post-incorporation deadlines
Appointment of first auditor, first board meeting, and statutory registers all have deadlines under the Companies Act. Missing them triggers SECP penalties later.
How much does company registration in Pakistan cost?
SECP government fees scale with the company's authorised capital and are revised periodically by the regulator. For an accurate, current figure for your specific capital structure, use the official SECP Incorporation Fee Calculator. On top of the SECP fee, budget for our consultant fees.
Talk to our team for a fixed all-in quote based on your specific entity type, authorised capital, and director profile. We respond within 24 hours, Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00 PKT.
“We needed a company registration, NTN, and STRN in Peshawar — all within a week. Fair Tax delivered everything on time with zero hassle. Their corporate services team is remarkably efficient.”
Frequently asked questions
Online filings with clean documents take 3 to 7 working days from name reservation through certificate of incorporation. Manual filings take 2 to 3 weeks. Foreign-director cases take 4 to 8 weeks because of document authentication.
Yes. A Single Member Company (SMC) is a private limited company variant designed for solo founders. It gives you the same limited liability as a Pvt Ltd with only one shareholder, and it can be converted to a multi-shareholder Pvt Ltd later when needed.
Yes. Foreign nationals can hold up to 100% equity in most sectors. Additional steps include apostilled passport copies, FDI registration with the State Bank of Pakistan if equity inflow exceeds prescribed limits, and Board of Investment registration. Restricted sectors such as defence and broadcasting have specific equity caps.
There is no minimum paid-up capital requirement under the Companies Act 2017 for private and single-member companies. You can incorporate with a modest authorised capital figure — though most founders set a higher number to give the company room to grow without filing capital-increase resolutions later.
No. The entire SECP company registration process is online. Foreign directors can complete the process from abroad — we coordinate document signing remotely. No physical presence is required at SECP offices for an online filing.
SECP registration creates the company as a legal entity under the Companies Act 2017. NTN registration with FBR registers the company as a taxpayer under the Income Tax Ordinance 2001. Both are required — SECP first to bring the company into existence, then FBR to register it for tax. We handle both as part of the engagement.
SECP government fees scale with the company's authorised capital and are revised periodically. For an accurate current figure, use the official SECP Incorporation Fee Calculator. Talk to our team for a fixed all-in quote based on your specific entity type and director profile.
Yes. Name change requires a special resolution passed by shareholders and SECP approval. Filing fees apply, and the company must update its bank account, NTN, contracts, and stationery once the change is approved. Plan for 2 to 4 weeks end-to-end.
Related services
Essential services for your newly incorporated company.
Visit our Pakistan office
ACCA-led, Peshawar-based. Pakistan-wide service for company registration and ongoing tax compliance.
Address
TF 121, Deans Trade Center
Peshawar 25000
Pakistan
Hours
Mon–Fri
9:00–17:00 PKT