ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan registered 2,017 new companies in October, raising the total number of registered companies to 154,093. Total paid-up-capital of the new companies stood at Rs2.7 billion.

Around 99 per cent of the companies were registered online. A total of 140 foreign entities were also registered from overseas.

The October incorporation consists of 63pc private limited companies, 33pc single-member companies and 3pc public unlisted companies, not for profit associations, and limited liability partnerships (LLP).

Foreign investment has been reported in 58 new companies. These companies have investors in Afghanistan, Belgium, China, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malta, the Netherlands, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, the UAE, the UK and US.