ISLAMABAD (MNN); The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan on Monday clarified that some media reports had inaccurately represented data regarding foreign companies that have ceased operations in Pakistan, particularly misreporting the year of cessation.
In a statement, the regulator emphasized that its website clearly specifies the year of cessation for each company to ensure transparency and accuracy.
The SECP confirmed that only 19 foreign companies ceased operations in Pakistan between 2022 and 2025, while 79 new foreign companies were registered during the same period.
The commission further explained that the figure of 125 foreign companies mentioned in certain reports represented the total number of foreign companies that had ceased operations in Pakistan since 1977, and did not refer to the last three years alone.
Additionally, the SECP noted that foreign investment was recorded in 82 local companies in the last month alone, originating from multiple jurisdictions including China, the United States, Australia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Denmark, Germany, Malaysia, South Korea, and Spain.
As of February 2026, a total of 1,157 foreign companies remain registered with the SECP, highlighting continued foreign business presence and confidence in Pakistan’s regulatory framework.
