Pakistan
Federal and provincial law- Companies Act, 2017
- Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2017
- Partnership Act, 1932
- SECP regulations and circulars
- SECP AML/CFT Regulations
- Foreign Private Investment (Promotion and Protection) Act, 1976
Corporate Law & Secretarial
Corporate Law and Secretarial Compliances
Your company's legal backbone — incorporated correctly, governed properly and filed on time, in Pakistan and wherever your group operates.
- Pakistan
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- Saudi Arabia
Overview
A company is only as sound as its records. We incorporate companies with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and keep them in good standing: statutory registers, board and shareholder resolutions, annual filings and every change in between. We help founders, family businesses and foreign investors get the structure right the first time — share capital, articles, directors and beneficial ownership — so the company is ready for bank accounts, investors and growth.
For groups operating across borders, we design and maintain holding structures and secretarial compliance in the UAE (mainland, free zones, DIFC and ADGM), the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, coordinating with locally licensed registered agents where a filing must be made by one. We are not a law firm: where a matter goes to court, we work alongside advocates.
Delivered from our Karachi head office for clients across Pakistan, the Middle East, Europe and the USA.
What we do
How we help
Company incorporation & structuring
Single-member, private, public unlisted and guarantee companies, LLPs and not-for-profit (section 42) companies — name reservation, constitutional documents and online filing with SECP.
Corporate secretarial services
Board and general meeting calendars, notices, minutes and resolutions, statutory registers and a governance framework that suits your stage.
Annual compliance filings
Annual returns, financial statements and event-based returns with SECP — and, for DIFC, ADGM and UK Companies House entities, the equivalent filings prepared by us and submitted through a locally licensed corporate service provider or a UK Authorised Corporate Service Provider.
Changes during the year
Directors and officers, registered office, increase in authorised capital, allotment and transfer of shares, and alterations to the memorandum or articles.
Beneficial ownership & UBO registers
Ultimate beneficial owner records and declarations under SECP requirements, UAE UBO rules and the UK PSC register, in line with AML/CFT expectations.
Shareholders' & joint venture agreements
Shareholders' agreements, joint venture agreements and family arrangements that protect founders, investors and minority holders.
Cross-border holding structures
Holding and subsidiary structures across Pakistan, the UAE, the UK and KSA, and registration of foreign companies' branches and liaison offices in Pakistan with Board of Investment permission.
Restructuring, licensing & closure
Conversions, schemes of arrangement, mergers, regulatory licences, and voluntary winding up or strike-off with tax clearance handled alongside.
What you receive
Key deliverables
- Incorporated company with constitutional documents
- Board and general meeting minutes and resolutions
- Cross-border holding structure designs
- Shareholders' and joint venture agreements
- Annual compliance filings (SECP; DIFC, ADGM and Companies House through locally authorised filing agents)
- Beneficial ownership and UBO registers
- Corporate restructuring and dissolution
- Regulatory licensing applications
- A compliance calendar for every entity
Who it is for
- Founders and start-ups
- Family-owned companies
- Foreign investors and overseas Pakistanis
- Groups with entities in several countries
- Not-for-profit (section 42) companies
- Companies preparing for investment or listing
Why Veridian Partners
- Multi-jurisdictional expertise — Pakistan, UAE, UK and KSA
- One integrated team across tax, accounting, legal, HR and IT
- Founding team qualified with ICAP, ACCA and IFMP
- Bespoke advice — never off-the-shelf
- Confidentiality and absolute discretion
Multi-jurisdictional regulatory framework
The rules behind this service — in four jurisdictions.
The principal laws, regulations and standards this service line works with in Pakistan, the UAE (including DIFC and ADGM), the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.
United Arab Emirates
Federal law, free zones, DIFC and ADGM- Commercial Companies Law — Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021
- DIFC Companies Law No. 5 of 2018
- ADGM Companies Regulations 2020
- Free zone company regulations
- Beneficial owner rules (mainland and free zones) — Cabinet Decision No. 109 of 2023
United Kingdom
UK legislation and regulators- Companies Act 2006
- Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2000
- People with Significant Control (PSC) register
- Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023
- Insolvency Act 1986
Saudi Arabia
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)- Companies Law (2022)
- Commercial Register Law
- Investment Law (2025) — MISA investor registration
A guide to the principal frameworks, not an exhaustive list: which rules apply depends on your structure and activities, and laws change. Where a filing or representation must be made by a locally licensed provider, we coordinate that step with one.
Our approach
How an engagement runs
- 1
Free consultation
We listen, ask the right questions and explain your options in plain language.
- 2
Fixed proposal
A written scope, timeline and fixed fee — before any work begins.
- 3
Delivery
Senior-led work, regular updates and documents you can rely on.
- 4
Ongoing care
Reminders, updates when the law changes and a team that knows your file.
FAQs
Common questions
How long does it take to register a company in Pakistan?
Once documents are complete, SECP's online process is usually completed within a few working days. Foreign shareholders or directors add security clearance, which takes longer. Read our step-by-step guide How to register a company with SECP.
Can a foreign national own a Pakistani company?
Yes, in most sectors foreign ownership of up to 100% is permitted. Foreign directors and shareholders go through security clearance, and foreign investment must be routed and recorded through banking channels so profits can later be repatriated.
What are a Pakistani company's main annual filings?
In broad terms: hold the annual general meeting within 120 days of the financial year end, file the annual return with SECP within 30 days of the AGM (where nothing has changed since the last return, check whether the section 130(5) relief applies and whether you must notify the registrar instead), file financial statements where required, and report changes — directors, shares, registered office — through the prescribed returns within their deadlines. See our Companies Act, 2017 annual compliance checklist.
Do you handle litigation?
We are not a law firm and do not appear in court. We handle corporate and regulatory matters with SECP and the registrars, and work alongside advocates where a matter goes to court.
Knowledge Bank
Related guides
How to Register a Private Limited Company in Pakistan with SECP
Company type, name, documents, online filing and the first 90 days after incorporation — a clear path from idea to a registered company.
Read the guideAnnual Corporate Compliance Checklist under the Companies Act, 2017
A month-by-month view of what a private company must file and hold each year — with SECP, FBR and provincial authorities.
Read the guideSetting Up a Business in Pakistan as a Foreign Investor or Overseas Pakistani
Subsidiary, branch or liaison office? The structures available, the regulators involved and how to keep the door open for repatriating profits.
Read the guideIndustries
Sectors where this matters most
Start-ups & SMEsCompany setup, lean finance, investor-ready records, ESOPs, first hires and growth on a sensible budget.Overseas Pakistanis & Foreign InvestorsRemote company setup, foreign investment registration, property and investment taxes, repatriation and trusted local oversight.Non-Profits & NGOsSection 42 companies, tax-exempt approvals, donor reporting, AML/CFT expectations, internal audit and governance.Banking, Insurance & Financial ServicesBanks, insurers, NBFCs and retirement funds: IFRS 9 and IFRS 17, SBP and SECP rules, AML/CFT and regulatory reporting.
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