Foreign Ownership Company Registration in Pakistan

Yes. Under the Companies Act 2017 and Board of Investment (BOI) policy, foreign nationals can hold up to 100% shares in a private limited company in Pakistan in most sectors. Exceptions include defence, print media, and certain agricultural activities which require specific approvals.

There is no statutory minimum paid-up capital for private limited companies under the Companies Act 2017. However, the BOI recommends a minimum of USD 1 equivalent. For an SBP Foreign Remittance Certificate (FRC), capital must be transferred via official banking channels. TaxAccountant.pk will advise the optimal capital amount for your sector.

The process typically takes 10–21 working days depending on document readiness, embassy attestation turnaround, SECP eServices name availability, and workload. With fully prepared documents, TaxAccountant.pk’s expedited service can complete registration in as few as 7 working days.

TaxAccountant.pk’s foreign ownership company registration service starts at PKR 50,000. This covers SECP government fees, MOA/AOA drafting, name reservation, Form-1/Form-21/Form-29 filing, digital signatures, and FBR NTN registration. Exact cost depends on company type and complexity. Contact us on WhatsApp for a transparent quote.

Yes. SECP requires every private limited company to have at least one director who is a resident of Pakistan. This can be a Pakistani national or a foreign national residing in Pakistan. TaxAccountant.pk advises on compliant director arrangements without compromising foreign control.

An FRC is an official certificate issued by an SBP-designated bank confirming that foreign capital has been legally remitted into Pakistan from abroad. SECP requires this certificate to formally recognize foreign shareholding. Without an FRC, the SECP incorporation will be rejected.

A Private Limited Company is a separate legal entity with its own NTN, limited liability, and full operational rights. A Branch Office is an extension of the foreign parent — not a separate entity — limited to its approved scope of operations. TaxAccountant.pk recommends the right structure based on your business model and repatriation needs.

Foreign-owned companies are taxed like domestic companies: 29% corporate income tax on taxable profits, 17% GST on taxable supplies (if applicable), and withholding taxes on dividends, royalties, and services. Pakistan has double taxation treaties with many countries — investors may benefit from reduced dividend withholding rates under applicable treaties.

Not necessarily. With properly notarized, apostilled, and embassy-attested documents, TaxAccountant.pk can process the entire registration remotely. A Power of Attorney (POA) can be granted to our consultants to sign on your behalf. Digital signatures required by SECP can be arranged through our office with your remote authorization.

After the SECP Certificate of Incorporation, TaxAccountant.pk assists with: (1) FBR NTN registration, (2) corporate bank account opening, (3) SBP Form-I foreign investment reporting, (4) GST registration if applicable, (5) BOI registration for investment treaty protection, and (6) annual SECP compliance filing — so your company remains fully compliant from day one.