Services/Corporate Services
PRACTICE / CORPORATE SERVICES

Corporate structure and compliance, set up to last

We help Pakistani businesses choose the right structure, incorporate cleanly with the SECP, and stay compliant year after year. From a single member company to a foreign subsidiary, the corporate record is built correctly from day one. You deal with a partner, not a queue.

SECP
Incorporation and filings via eServices
Companies Act 2017
The framework we work within
Partner-led
Senior involvement, every engagement
A clean corporate record is the cheapest protection your company will ever buy.

Every business in Pakistan sits inside a framework set by the Companies Act 2017 and administered by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan. The choices you make at the start, the type of entity, the shareholding, the directors and the objects of the company, shape your tax position, your access to bank finance and your ability to bring in investors later. We treat incorporation as the foundation of the business rather than a form-filling exercise, and we build it so the structure still works when the company grows.

Compliance is where most companies quietly lose ground. Annual returns, changes in directors, share allotments, statutory registers, the annual general meeting and ultimate beneficial ownership records all carry deadlines under the Companies Act 2017, and a gap in the record surfaces at the worst possible time: during due diligence, a bank facility, or a sale. We keep the corporate file current and audit-ready throughout the year, so nothing has to be reconstructed under pressure.

Finspera 21 is a partner-led firm, and corporate work is handled by people who understand both the law and the commercial reality of running a company in Pakistan. We work with family businesses tidying up years of informal arrangements, startups preparing for their first funding round, and foreign investors setting up a branch, liaison office or local subsidiary. The aim is the same in each case: a structure you understand, a record that holds up to scrutiny, and a clear view of what has to be filed and when.

Capabilities

What we do.

Corporate work runs best when the sequence is clear and the record is kept clean throughout. Here is how a typical engagement moves.

01

Company formation and structuring

We advise on the right entity and shareholding, then incorporate it correctly through SECP eServices.

02

Company secretarial and statutory compliance

We keep your statutory record complete and every SECP filing on time.

03

Corporate governance and board advisory

We help boards meet their duties under the law and the applicable governance code.

04

Restructuring, transactions and exits

We manage changes to the company from a first share transfer through to winding up.

Our Approach

How we work.

A disciplined, staged engagement model, from first question to defensible outcome.

PHASE 01

Scoping

We start with a short conversation about the business, the owners and where you want to be in a few years. From this we identify the questions that actually matter for your structure and flag anything in an existing setup that needs fixing.

PHASE 02

Structure

We recommend the entity type, shareholding and directorships that fit your commercial and tax position. You get a plain explanation of the options and the reasoning, not just a form to sign.

PHASE 03

Incorporation

We reserve the name, prepare the constitutional documents and complete registration through SECP eServices. We then handle the post-incorporation registrations, including the NTN with the FBR and sales tax registration where it applies.

PHASE 04

Compliance setup

We open your statutory registers and minute books and build a compliance calendar mapped to your filing deadlines. You leave this stage knowing exactly what has to be filed with SECP and the FBR, and when.

PHASE 05

Ongoing support

We act as your point of contact for secretarial filings, board meetings and any change to the company. As the business changes, the corporate record changes with it, so it is always ready for a bank, an auditor or an investor.

"

Good advice solves today’s problem, and prepares you for the next one.

, Finspera 21
Questions

Frequently asked.

Which type of company should I register in Pakistan?
It depends on how many owners you have, whether you want to bring in outside shareholders, and your appetite for compliance. A single member company suits one owner who wants limited liability, while a private limited company works well for two or more shareholders and for raising investment. Public and listed companies carry heavier governance obligations and suit larger operations. We walk you through the trade-offs before you commit to a structure.
How does company registration with the SECP work?
Incorporation is done online through SECP eServices. It involves reserving a company name, preparing the memorandum and articles of association, and submitting the incorporation application with the details of directors and shareholders. Once the SECP is satisfied, it issues the certificate of incorporation. After that, we complete the post-incorporation registrations, including the NTN with the FBR.
What ongoing filings does my company have to make?
Under the Companies Act 2017 a company must file its annual return, report changes in directors or officers, file returns of allotment when it issues shares, and keep its ultimate beneficial ownership records current. It must also hold an annual general meeting, maintain statutory registers and minute books, and file its annual audited financial statements with the SECP. Missing these creates gaps that surface during due diligence or bank financing. We track and file them so the record stays complete.
Can a foreign investor set up a business in Pakistan?
Yes. A foreign investor can incorporate a local subsidiary, which is often the cleanest route, or establish a branch office or liaison office. Branch and liaison offices require permission from the Board of Investment, and each option carries different tax and compliance consequences. We advise on which structure fits your plans and manage the approvals and registrations end to end.
What is ultimate beneficial ownership and does it apply to my company?
Ultimate beneficial ownership identifies the real individuals who ultimately own or control a company, looking through any intermediate entities. Companies in Pakistan are required to record these details and report them to the SECP, and to keep the information up to date. It applies broadly, including to private companies and single member companies. We help you determine who your beneficial owners are and maintain the record correctly.
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Set your company up to last

Whether you are incorporating for the first time or tidying up years of informal arrangements, we will get the structure and the record right. Talk to a partner about your corporate needs and leave with a clear plan.