How to Register a Company in Pakistan with SECP Online (eServices Guide)
A comprehensive 2026 digital step-by-step masterclass on registering a Private Limited company or Single Member Company (SMC-Pvt Ltd) with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) via the eServices portal.
Submit 3 proposed company name options on SECP eServices. Approval issued within 2–4 hours upon payment of PKR 500 reservation fee.
Generate secure SECP eServices User IDs and digital signatures for all proposed directors using CNIC/NICOP and mobile PIN verification.
Submit Memorandum & Articles of Association, Form 1, Form 21, and Form 29 online via eServices with PSID fee payment.
Receive official SECP digital Certificate of Incorporation and automatic 7-digit FBR Corporate NTN via single-window integration.
Table of Contents
- 1. Overview of SECP eServices Architecture
- 2. Phase 1: Name Availability & Search Protocol
- 3. Phase 2: Directors' SECP User IDs & Digital Credentials
- 4. Phase 3: Drafting Memorandum & Articles of Association
- 5. SECP Official Government Fee Schedule (2026)
- 6. Phase 4: SECP & FBR Single-Window NTN Issuance
- 7. Phase 5: Post-Incorporation Banking & Share Capital
- 8. Frequently Asked Questions
1. Overview of SECP eServices Architecture
In Pakistan, corporate incorporation is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) under the Companies Act 2017. Historically, registering a private limited entity required physical submissions to regional Company Registration Offices (CROs) in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, or Quetta.
Today, SECP operates a 100% digital, paperless registration ecosystem known as eServices 2.0. Through eServices, founders can reserve company names, generate digital PIN credentials, submit statutory forms, pay government fees via 1Link PSID or credit card, and receive an officially signed digital Certificate of Incorporation in as little as 24 hours.
SECP eServices is directly integrated with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), EOBI (Employees' Old-Age Benefits Institution), PESSI (Provincial Employees Social Security Institution), and the Punjab/Sindh Revenue Boards. Incorporating an SECP company automatically registers your corporate entity across these tax and labor databases simultaneously.
2. Phase 1: Name Availability & Search Protocol
The initial phase of SECP incorporation is securing name clearance. The proposed company name must comply with Section 10 of the Companies Act 2017 and SECP Name Availability Regulations:
Key Rules for Company Name Selection:
- Uniqueness & Similarity Test: The name must not be identical or deceptively similar to any existing company registered in SECP database or trademark registered with IPO Pakistan.
- Prohibited & Restricted Words: Words such as "State", "Federal", "Royal", "National", "Bank", "Trust", "Insurance", "Chartered", or "University" require prior approval or licensing from federal ministries.
- Principal Line of Business Alignment: The name should reflect your company's core activity (e.g., "Apex Software Solutions (Private) Limited" or "Vanguard Logistics (SMC-Private) Limited").
eServices Name Application Submission:
Log into SECP eServices → Select "Name Availability" → Enter 3 proposed names in order of preference → State principal business activity → Generate PSID fee (PKR 500) → Pay online via banking app.
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ADVAQ handles name reservation, eServices incorporation filing, Memorandum & Articles drafting, digital signatures, and automatic FBR Corporate NTN setup.
3. Phase 2: Directors' SECP User IDs & Digital Credentials
Under SECP eServices 2.0 regulations, paper signatures on physical incorporation forms are obsolete. Every proposed subscriber and director must possess a verified SECP digital profile:
- Pakistani Citizens (CNIC): Register eServices account using 13-digit CNIC number, active mobile number registered under CNIC (verified via NADRA 8009), and personal email address.
- Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) & Foreign Nationals: Register using Passport / NICOP details alongside notarized passport copies for SECP eServices clearance.
- Digital Signature Pin Generation: SECP sends a 4-digit digital PIN via SMS and email. This PIN acts as your legally binding electronic signature during form submission.
4. Phase 3: Drafting Memorandum & Articles of Association
The charter documents of your SECP company consist of two fundamental legal instruments:
Establishes the company's Principal Line of Business Clause. Under the Companies Act 2017, companies can engage in any lawful business, but must state their core primary sector (e.g., Software Development, Call Center Services, E-commerce Logistics).
Defines internal corporate governance, director powers, board meeting quorums, share transfer restrictions, dividend distribution procedures, and AGM voting rules (adopted from Table A of Companies Act 2017).
5. SECP Official Government Fee Schedule (2026)
SECP eServices offers highly economical government incorporation fee structures. Fees are calculated based on your proposed Authorized Capital:
| Authorized Capital Bracket | eServices Online Filing Fee (PKR) | FBR Single-Window NTN Fee | Average Processing Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to PKR 100,000 (Standard Startups) | PKR 2,500 - PKR 3,500 | FREE (Integrated) | 24 - 48 Hours |
| PKR 100,001 to PKR 1,000,000 | PKR 5,000 - PKR 7,500 | FREE (Integrated) | 24 - 48 Hours |
| PKR 1,000,001 to PKR 5,000,000 | PKR 15,000 - PKR 22,000 | FREE (Integrated) | 2 - 3 Working Days |
| Above PKR 5,000,000 | Base Fee + Incremental Rates per PKR 100k | FREE (Integrated) | 3 - 4 Working Days |
6. Phase 4: SECP & FBR Single-Window NTN Issuance
Upon successful eServices submission and PSID fee payment, the SECP Registrar inspects your filing. Once approved:
- Digital Certificate of Incorporation: SECP generates an officially signed digital certificate containing your 7-digit Corporate CUIN (Company Universal Identification Number).
- FBR Corporate NTN Generation: Simultaneously, the eServices portal triggers FBR Iris integration to generate your 7-digit Corporate National Tax Number (NTN) without requiring a separate manual FBR visit.
7. Phase 5: Post-Incorporation Banking & Share Capital
Receiving your Certificate of Incorporation is only the beginning. To complete legal operational setup:
Present SECP Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum & Articles, Board Resolution, CNIC copies, and NADRA biometric verification to open a business account (Meezan Bank, HBL, Bank Alfalah).
Subscribers must deposit their pledged share capital into the corporate bank account within 30 days of incorporation.
File Form 22 accompanied by a Chartered Accountant verification certificate confirming receipt of share capital.
Frequently Asked Questions
SECP ONLINE REGISTRATION SERVICES
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Name reservation, eServices incorporation filing, Memorandum & Articles drafting, digital signatures, and automatic FBR Corporate NTN registration handled by ADVAQ.