By Omer Bilal ISLAMABAD, November 08 (INP-WealthPK)- Pakistan has made starting a business easier by introducing a one-step online registration system that only needs a single application instead of the earlier arduous form-filling practice. The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 25,539 new companies in FY2020-21, a growth of 21.22 percent y-o-y, which takes the total number of registered companies to 145,886. Sector-wise, the trading sector took the lead with 2,342 companies newly incorporated, followed by information technology (1,888) and the construction sector (1,756). To be specific, there were 1,301 companies in the consultation services sector newly incorporated, 957 in real estate development, 950 in e-commerce, 867 in software development, 875 in services-allied others, 1,392 in import/export, 157 miscellaneous, 96 in Hajj and Umrah services, 844 in construction, 498 in tourism, 586 in engineering, 594 in food and beverages, 412 in food, 251 in textile, 459 in education, 72 in communications, 419 in pharmaceutical, 254 in transport, 288 in garments, 295 in mining and quarrying, 565 in marketing and advertisement, 329 in wholesale/retail, 407 in seed processing, 239 in chemical, 239 in cosmetics and toiletries, 135 in human resource services, 191 in educational institutions, 165 in fuel and energy, and 6,637 companies were registered in other sectors. Foreign investment has been reported in 22 new companies, including eight from China, four from the United Kingdom, three from Turkey, and one each from UAE, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden, and Iran. A total of 144 companies, including seven foreign companies, wound up their businesses during the last two years i.e., from 01 June 2019 to 30 Sept 2021. Under the umbrella of the "ease of doing business" policy, SECP has taken a number of measures and established a state-of-the-art business centre in Islamabad on December 14, 2020, for swift incorporation of companies, coupled with exclusive facilitation for the general public. A WhatsApp service for businesses was also introduced in July 2021, which can be accessed at “03069365625” for live conversations with the SECP representatives for queries on company incorporation, company retrieval through name and incorporation number, fee calculation, post-incorporation requirements, and electronic incorporation certification. A designated help desk has become operational at the business centre to provide exclusive facilitating services to Chinese investors and start-ups that intend to invest in Pakistan. The digital certificate of registration with SECP signifies simultaneous registration with provincial departments including the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI), Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI), the labour departments, and the taxation departments of Punjab and Sindh. To facilitate the investors and general public, SECP has undertaken a number of measures, including the introduction of an online searching facility, streamlined process of incorporation, guide for incorporation, accessibility to statutory forms, and schedule of fees payable to the registrar and SECP through e-service.