The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has announced a significant hike in company registration and document submission fees under the Companies Act 2017. This revision affects businesses across different categories and aims to streamline the application process.
Updated SECP Registration Fees
For companies with a nominal share capital of up to Rs100,000, the fee for electronic submissions has increased from Rs1,100 to Rs5,500, while manual submissions will now cost Rs10,000, up from Rs2,200. The fee for reserving a company name has also risen, with electronic submissions now priced at Rs1,000 (previously Rs200), and manual submissions at Rs2,000 (up from Rs500). These changes are outlined in the SECP’s recent notification, SRO 1806(I)/2024.
Introduction of Group Registration Fees
The SECP has also introduced new fees for group company registrations under regulations 138/140 of the Companies Regulations 2024. The registration fee for both electronic and manual submissions in this category is now set at Rs100,000.
The revised fee structure also impacts applications for approvals, exemptions, or confirmations from the SECP or registrar, with a non-refundable processing fee required.
These increases are expected to particularly affect startups and small businesses, as they will need to factor in higher costs during the registration process. However, the SECP justifies the changes by stating they are designed to improve service quality and operational efficiency.
