ISLAMABAD (February 09 2010): The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 254 companies during the month of January, 2010, as compared to 189 and 237 companies registered during November, and December 2009, showing an increase of 34 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively.

The total corporate portfolio as on January 31, 2010 comprises of 54,657 registered companies. According to a press release of the SECP issued on Monday, total 254 companies incorporated during January, 2010, comprise of 5 public unlisted companies, 234 private companies, 12 single member companies and 3 association not for profit under section 42 of the Companies Ordinance, 1984 (the 'Ordinance').

Total authorised capital and paid up capital of companies, incorporated during January, 2010 amounted to Rs 1,334.10 million and Rs 393.90 million respectively. During January 2010, number of new incorporation was highest at Lahore, whereby 100 companies have been registered, followed by Islamabad registering 69 companies, Karachi with 67 companies. Peshawar and Multan registered 6 companies, each. Faisalabad and Quetta registered 4, and 2 companies respectively.

Major share of new incorporation was witnessed in the trading sector comprising of 42 companies, followed by 33 in services, 16 in construction, 14 in information technology, 13 in Hajj and Umrah services, 12 in communications, 11 in textile sector, 10 each in broadcasting and telecasting, and power generation sector.

During the month, the Commission granted licences to two associations not for profit under Section 42 of the Ordinance of which one is for environment protection, and other related to research on policy issues. Of these 254 companies registered during January 2010, 22 companies have foreign investment.-PR

Copyright Business Recorder, 2010