ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 1,125 new companies in March 2018, raising the number of registered companies to 84,783. As compared to the corresponding month of last year, it represents a growth of 36 percent. The massive increase in number of new companies is the result of various reform measures introduced by the SECP, i.e. introduction of simplified combined process for name reservation and incorporation, reduction of fee, assistance of incorporation by facilitation wings of CROs etc. Around 79 percent companies were registered as private limited companies, while around 19 percent companies were registered as single-member companies. Two percent of the companies were registered as public unlisted, association not for profit and foreign companies. Published in Daily Times, April 17th 2018.