Company Registration Pakistan

Company Registration in Pakistan – SECP & FBR Experts (2026 Guide)

We handle your complete company registration – SECP incorporation, FBR NTN, and provincial compliance – so you can focus on building your business. Fully remote-friendly for overseas Pakistanis.

Updated June 2026 to reflect current SECP eZfile protocols and post-April 2025 fee revision.

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Overseas Pakistani? Skip ahead to our complete remote registration guide.

500+ Companies Registered

SECP Authorized

NRP Remote Registration Available

10+ Years in Business

Karachi-Based

NRP ClientsUAE, UK, Canada & Saudi Arabia

Company Registration in Pakistan Has a Lot of Moving Parts – Most People Get It Wrong

The SECP eZfile portal is publicly accessible, but it is not built for first-time users. A missing document, a wrong field entry, or an incorrectly formatted clause in your MOA gets your application rejected. And when that happens, you are not just back to square one – you are waiting another 10 to 14 days and paying re-filing costs you did not plan for.

Most online guides do not help much. Fee structures from a quick search are based on the old schedule. SECP revised its fees in April 2025, which means a large portion of what is published online – including on some professional firm websites – is already outdated before you start reading it.

Then there is the structure question. Sole proprietorship, SMC, or Private Limited Company? Each carries different tax implications, different liability exposure, different compliance obligations going forward. Most founders pick the wrong one early and either pay to restructure later or carry an inefficient setup for years.

If you are an overseas Pakistani, the frustration compounds fast. You cannot physically walk into an office. You are not sure whether remote registration through SECP is even legally possible. Most service providers are not equipped for your situation either – they will ask you to come back when you are in Karachi, which defeats the purpose entirely.

Even founders who complete their SECP registration often miss what comes next. SRB registration for Karachi-based service companies. SESSI enrollment. Annual return deadlines. FBR income tax filings. None of these are optional – and finding out about them six months after incorporation, usually through a notice, is not a comfortable way to learn.

One mistake at any stage delays everything. Getting it right the first time is not just more convenient – it is significantly cheaper.

We Handle Your Complete Company Registration – From Name Reservation to Bank Account Readiness

In 7 to 12 business days, your company will be fully registered with SECP, enrolled with FBR, and ready for operation – with zero portal headaches on your end. That timeline covers everything: name reservation, incorporation documents, NTN issuance, and provincial registrations for Karachi-based businesses.

SECP and FBR are now integrated through a one-window system, which means NTN generation happens automatically alongside incorporation when the process is handled correctly. Most founders attempting this themselves do not know that step exists – and end up filing NTN separately, adding days to the process.

We should also be honest here: the one-window sync does not always work perfectly. There are cases where the NTN issuance lags behind the incorporation certificate, and FBR IRIS needs to be filed separately. We monitor every application and bridge that gap manually when it happens – so you never have to follow up with FBR yourself.

We work with the 2026 SECP fee schedule – the post-April 2025 revision – so there are no surprises on government charges. Every cost is disclosed upfront before you commit to anything.

For overseas Pakistanis, the entire process runs remotely. You do not need to be in Pakistan. Through a properly prepared Power of Attorney and SECP eZfile, your registration moves forward without you leaving Dubai, London, or Toronto.

What we handle for you:

Name reservation through SECP eZfile

Incorporation documents including MOA and AOA

Form 1 and Form 29 filings

NTN registration via FBR IRIS

STRN where applicable

SRB registration for Karachi service companies

SESSI guidance

Bank account readiness letter

Which Business Structure Is Right for You?

Pakistan offers five main business structures, and choosing the wrong one early creates problems that follow you for years. Here is how they compare, and who each one actually suits.

A sole proprietorship is registered through FBR, not SECP. It is the simplest structure available – one person, one NTN, minimal paperwork. There is no legal separation between you and the business, which means your personal assets carry the same risk as the business does. It works well for freelancers, individual consultants, and traders testing a market before committing to a formal entity. Registration typically takes 3 to 5 days and costs the least of any structure. NRP eligibility is limited since physical presence is generally expected during FBR NTN issuance.

A partnership firm is governed by the Partnership Act and registered with the Registrar of Firms, not SECP. Two or more people share ownership, profits, and liability. Like a sole proprietorship, there is no limited liability protection – each partner is personally exposed to the firm’s obligations. It suits small family businesses or professional practices where the partners know and trust each other. Not the right structure for tech companies, startups, or any business planning to raise investment.

An AOP is a tax classification under FBR rather than a formal legal entity. Groups of individuals – such as a joint venture or a family business – file collectively under AOP status. Tax is assessed at the AOP level, but liability remains personal. It is relevant for property-owning groups, small investment circles, or temporary business arrangements. Not suitable for businesses planning to scale, hire formally, or bring in external investment.

An SMC is a SECP-registered entity with a single shareholder and director. It provides full limited liability protection, meaning your personal assets are legally separated from the company’s obligations. This is the right structure for solo founders who want a formal legal identity without bringing in co-founders or investors. Registration takes 7 to 10 days electronically and is processed through SECP eZfile. NRP founders holding NICOP can register an SMC remotely using a notarized Power of Attorney.

A Private Limited Company requires a minimum of two shareholders and two directors. It offers limited liability, a formal corporate structure, and the credibility that comes with being a properly incorporated entity. It is the preferred structure for software houses, agencies, eCommerce businesses, and any founder planning to hire staff, open a business bank account, bill international clients, or attract investment. SECP registration takes 7 to 12 days electronically. NRP founders can register remotely through NICOP and a properly attested Power of Attorney.

Feature	Sole Prop	Partnership	AOP	SMC	Pvt Ltd
Governing Authority	FBR	Registrar of Firms	FBR	SECP	SECP
Minimum Owners	1	2	2+	1	2
Limited Liability	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Registration Timeline	3-5 days	5-7 days	3-5 days	7-10 days	7-12 days
NRP Eligibility	Limited	Limited	No	Yes (NICOP)	Yes (NICOP)
Best For	Freelancers, solo traders	Small family businesses	Joint ventures, property groups	Solo founders, consultants	Startups, agencies, tech companies

Swipe to compare all structures →

Not sure which structure fits your goals? Our consultants will recommend the right one in under 15 minutes – for free.

Your Registration, Step by Step – 7 to 12 Business Days

Day 0
Free Consultation

Before anything is filed, we sit down with you – over a call or WhatsApp – and understand your business type, your goals, and what structure makes sense. This is also where we pre-check your proposed company name for availability and flag any documentation gaps before they become rejection triggers. One thing we do at this stage that most firms skip: we pre-vet your preferred bank’s account opening requirements before SECP name reservation even begins. Pakistani banks are still heavily process-driven, and knowing what your bank needs before you are incorporated saves you from surprises after the Certificate is already in your hand.
Days 1-2
Name Reservation via SECP eZfile

We check availability for your proposed company name, submit the reservation through the SECP eZfile portal, and confirm approval. We recommend three name options upfront to avoid delays if the first choice is unavailable. This step is handled entirely on our end.
Days 2-3
Document Preparation

Based on your structure and ownership details, we prepare the exact document set required. For a Private Limited Company, this includes the Memorandum of Association, Articles of Association, Form 1, and Form 29. Everything is reviewed before submission to make sure there are no formatting or compliance errors that would trigger a rejection. The MOA and AOA are not just filing documents – they define the scope of your business activities and your internal governance rules. Getting the clauses right at this stage matters, especially if you plan to bring in investors or add shareholders later.
Days 3-5
SECP Incorporation Application

All documents are submitted digitally through SECP eZfile. Government fees are paid through the applicable electronic channels at the correct 2026 rate for your authorized share capital bracket. You do not touch the portal at any point – we manage the submission and track the status throughout.
Days 5-7
Certificate of Incorporation Issued

Once SECP approves the application, your Certificate of Incorporation is issued along with your company registration number. At this point, your company legally exists. We deliver all digital documents to you immediately.
Days 7-9
FBR NTN and STRN Registration

Using the SECP-FBR one-window integration, your NTN is generated automatically alongside incorporation in most cases. Where the sync does not complete – which does happen – we file directly through FBR IRIS and resolve it without involving you. If your business model requires STRN for sales tax registration, we assess and complete that in the same window.
Days 9-12
Provincial and Bank Account Setup Guidance

For Karachi-based service companies, SRB registration with the Sindh Revenue Board is required for sales tax on services. We handle that enrollment. We also provide SESSI guidance for businesses planning to hire employees, and issue a bank account readiness letter to help you open your corporate account at your preferred bank – with the pre-vetted documentation list already confirmed back in Step 1.

NRP? Steps 1 through 7 are 100% remote. You never need to visit Pakistan.

Everything That Comes With Your Registration

No surprises after you hire us. Here is exactly what we deliver.

SECP Deliverables

Company name reservation confirmation
Memorandum and Articles of Association (MOA and AOA)
Certificate of Incorporation
Form 29 (Directors and Officers Filing)
Digital company registration profile on SECP eZfile

FBR Deliverables

National Tax Number (NTN) certificate
STRN where applicable
FBR IRIS profile activation

Provincial & Karachi-Specific

SRB (Sindh Revenue Board) registration for Karachi service companies
SESSI enrollment guidance for businesses with employees
Bank account readiness letter with pre-vetted documentation list

Support Deliverables

Dedicated relationship manager throughout the process
Post-registration compliance calendar covering all annual deadlines
30-day post-registration support window for any follow-up questions

Transparent Pricing – No Hidden Costs

Government fees are included in all packages at the exact 2026 SECP electronic rate – not added on top afterward. NRP remote registration via Power of Attorney is available across all tiers. Starting prices below are professional service fees. Government fees are disclosed separately in your quote with full line-item transparency.

Starter

Sole Proprietorship or AOP Registration

Starting from PKR 15,000 + Government Fees

Everything a solo founder or freelancer needs to get tax-compliant and operational. Includes NTN registration, FBR IRIS setup, and a basic compliance calendar covering your annual filing obligations. A practical choice for individual consultants, freelancers, and sole traders who want to formalize without the overhead of a full company structure.

Professional

SMC or Private Limited Company (Standard)

Starting from PKR 35,000 + Government Fees

The most popular option for startups, agencies, and tech founders. Full SECP incorporation including MOA and AOA drafting, NTN and STRN registration, and 30-day post-registration support. You come out of this with a registered company, active tax numbers, and a compliance calendar. A solid fit for software houses, digital agencies, eCommerce businesses, and any founder billing clients formally.

Premium

Private Limited Company with Full Compliance Suite

Starting from PKR 65,000 + Government Fees

Everything in the Professional package plus SRB registration for Karachi-based service companies, SESSI guidance for businesses hiring employees, a full annual filing calendar covering SECP returns, FBR income tax, and SRB renewals, and a dedicated relationship manager. Built for growth-stage businesses, NRP investors, and foreign-owned entities that need ongoing compliance support from Day 1.

Overseas Pakistani? You Can Register a Company in Pakistan Without Coming Back

This section is for Pakistani nationals living abroad who want to establish a business back home without a physical visit. Whether you are in Dubai, London, Toronto, or Riyadh, your NICOP gives you direct legal access to SECP incorporation – no local resident director required, no flights needed. Here is exactly how it works.

Pakistani nationals living abroad who hold a NICOP can register a company with SECP without setting foot in Pakistan. NICOP is accepted as valid identification on the SECP eZfile portal, carrying the same legal standing as a CNIC for incorporation purposes. This means you can be the sole director of an SMC or one of the directors of a Private Limited Company from wherever you currently live.

Foreign nationals can also invest in a Pakistani company, but they typically require at least one Pakistani resident director on record. Pakistani NICOP holders do not have that restriction.

To authorize someone in Pakistan to act on your behalf during registration, you need a notarized Power of Attorney. This document must be notarized in your country of residence and then attested by the Pakistani Embassy or Consulate in that country. Once attested, it is legally valid for SECP purposes.

We prepare the PoA template for you. You get it notarized locally and take it to the Pakistani Embassy for attestation – a process that typically takes 2 to 5 business days depending on the city. We guide you through every step and confirm exactly what the Embassy in your specific location requires, because the process in Dubai differs slightly from London, and Toronto differs from Riyadh.

NRPs can invest foreign currency into their Pakistani company. The investment must be declared and routed through approved banking channels – typically a Pakistani corporate bank account opened after incorporation. The State Bank of Pakistan has specific reporting requirements for foreign currency inflows into private companies, and these must be followed to ensure the investment is properly documented and eligible for repatriation later. We advise on SBP reporting requirements as part of our Premium package and coordinate with your bank to make sure the inflow is structured correctly from the start.

Companies with properly documented foreign investment can repatriate profits out of Pakistan. The process is governed by SBP Foreign Exchange Regulations. Having your initial investment structured correctly – routed through the right channels and declared at incorporation – makes repatriation straightforward later. Trying to fix a poorly documented inflow retroactively is significantly more complicated and expensive.

Remote Registration Timeline for NRPs

The process typically takes 10 to 12 business days. Here is how the timeline breaks down:

1
Days 1 to 2
Free consultation and structure confirmation. We confirm your NICOP details and prepare your PoA template.
2
Days 2 to 5
You get the PoA notarized and Embassy-attested in your country of residence. We prepare all incorporation documents in parallel.
3
Days 5 to 7
SECP eZfile submission. Name reservation confirmed, incorporation documents submitted.
4
Days 7 to 10
SECP review and Certificate of Incorporation issued.
5
Days 10 to 12
FBR NTN issuance, SRB registration where applicable, and bank account readiness letter issued.

You are never required to visit Pakistan at any point in this process.

NRP Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Registrations have been completed for clients in the UAE, UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. The process is the same regardless of where you are based. The only variable is how quickly the Pakistani Embassy in your city processes PoA attestations.

If you are a Pakistani national with NICOP, no. You can be the sole director of an SMC or a director of a Pvt Ltd without any local director requirement. Foreign nationals without NICOP do need a Pakistani resident director.

After your company is incorporated and your business bank account is opened, you transfer the investment via international wire transfer into the company account. The bank documents the inflow and files the required reports with SBP. We coordinate this with you and your bank to make sure it is handled correctly.

10 to 12 business days from the date of your first consultation, assuming PoA attestation is completed promptly. Most clients in the UAE complete the Embassy attestation within 2 to 3 days.

Opening a business bank account typically requires a physical visit to the branch in Pakistan. Some banks allow the process to begin remotely with documents submitted in advance, but final account activation usually requires an in-person visit. We provide a bank account readiness letter that makes the in-branch process faster, and we recommend Karachi-based branches experienced in handling NRP corporate accounts.

Registration Expertise Across Every Major Sector

Different industries carry different compliance requirements at registration. Here is what you need to know for yours.

Software Houses and IT Companies

A Private Limited Company is the recommended structure. SECP Pvt Ltd registration makes you eligible to apply for PSEB (Pakistan Software Export Board) certification, which carries significant tax benefit considerations for export-oriented revenue. Your STRN registration and FBR setup need to align with how you are billing clients – locally in PKR or internationally in foreign currency. For software companies, getting the tax registration structure right from Day 1 matters more than in almost any other sector.

eCommerce Businesses

Structure choice directly affects your sales tax obligations. If you are selling goods or services above the FBR threshold, STRN registration is required. Karachi-based eCommerce operations selling services also trigger SRB registration requirements. Getting this wrong at the start leads to compliance gaps that surface during FBR audits. The revenue model is assessed during onboarding and the exact registration requirements are confirmed before anything is filed.

Digital Agencies and Consultancies

SMC or Pvt Ltd depending on ownership. If you are billing international clients, your invoicing structure and bank account setup matter as much as the registration itself. Freelancer-to-company transitions also carry specific FBR implications that we handle as part of onboarding. Karachi-based agencies billing services locally are also within SRB’s scope – a step many agency founders miss entirely at incorporation.

Import and Export Businesses

Beyond SECP and FBR registration, import-export businesses need to register with the Pakistan Customs system and are subject to SBP reporting requirements for foreign currency transactions. We handle the SECP and FBR layer and coordinate with you on the additional requirements your specific trade activity requires.

Real Estate and Construction

AOP or Pvt Ltd depending on the number of stakeholders and the nature of the work. Real estate transactions carry specific FBR withholding tax obligations that need to be factored into your entity structure from Day 1.

Food and Hospitality

SECP and FBR registration is the starting point, but food businesses in Karachi also require local body licensing from the relevant municipal authority. We handle the SECP and FBR layer and point you toward the right local licensing contacts.

Healthcare Clinics and Pharma

Registration with SECP and FBR is required, but healthcare businesses also need licensing from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and relevant provincial health departments. We handle the corporate registration and advise on what additional licensing your specific operation requires.

Real Registrations. Real Results.

9 Days

Karachi Software House – From Confusion to Billing International Clients in 9 Days

A solo founder based in Karachi came to us after spending three weeks trying to decide between an SMC and a Private Limited Company. He was building a SaaS product with plans to bring in a co-founder within six months and eventually bill clients in the US and UK. The SMC made sense for now – but the Pvt Ltd made more sense for where he was going. A well-drafted MOA and AOA at this stage also meant his company structure would hold up if investors came looking later.

We registered a Private Limited Company with two directors, handled NTN and STRN registration in the same window, and provided PSEB guidance for when he is ready to apply for export certification. Total time from consultation to Certificate of Incorporation: 9 days. He was billing his first international client in Week 2.

11 Days

NRP from Dubai – Company Registered Without a Single Flight Home

A Pakistani national based in Dubai had been putting off registering a trading company in Pakistan for over a year because he assumed he needed to come back in person. He reached out after a colleague mentioned remote SECP registration was possible through NICOP.

We confirmed the process, prepared his Power of Attorney template, guided him through the notarization and Pakistani Consulate attestation in Dubai – which took 3 days – and submitted his Private Limited Company incorporation through SECP eZfile while he was at work. His company was registered in 11 days. His foreign currency investment was routed through his newly opened corporate account in full compliance with SBP requirements. He has not visited Pakistan once.

2 Founders

eCommerce Startup – Two Founders, One Properly Structured Entity

Two co-founders were about to launch an online fashion store and had assumed a sole proprietorship in one founder’s name would be enough. After a 15-minute consultation, it was clear they needed a Private Limited Company – both founders needed to be legal shareholders, and they were already in conversations with a potential investor who would require a formal corporate structure.

We registered the Pvt Ltd, handled SRB enrollment for their Karachi-based operations, and completed their full compliance onboarding. They opened a business bank account in Week 2. Six months later, they closed their first round of external investment using the same corporate structure we set up at the start.

What Our Clients Say

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