ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has made public a comprehensive list of 125 foreign companies that have wound up their branch and liaison offices in Pakistan as of January 20, 2026.
The regulator’s publication on its official portal details the formal closure of these non-trading representative entities across key cities including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar.
These offices, typically established for liaison, coordination, market exploration, or promotional purposes, do not engage in direct commercial activities but serve as extensions of multinational parent companies.
The winding-up process, governed under relevant provisions of the Companies Act, marks the official termination of registration and operations for these foreign entities.
The list includes companies from a wide array of countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Turkey, Australia, Sweden, Bahrain, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and additional jurisdictions.
Many of these entities had maintained a presence for years before deciding to exit, reflecting strategic realignments amid evolving economic and operational environments.
The SECP’s data underscores that some closures relate to entities inactive for extended periods, with formal winding up finalized by the cutoff date.
Publication of such records supports regulatory compliance, enables accurate corporate database maintenance, and informs stakeholders about changes in foreign business footprints.
While the full list is available for download on the SECP website under relevant sections for corporates and foreign companies, the following represents the complete compilation of the 125 entities as disclosed:
- Microsoft Corporation (USA)
- Unilever Overseas Holdings (UK)
- Nestle S.A. Liaison (Switzerland)
- Procter & Gamble International (USA)
- The Coca-Cola Export Corporation (USA)
- ExxonMobil Asia Pacific (USA)
- Shell International (Netherlands/UK)
- HSBC Bank Middle East (UK)
- Standard Chartered Bank Liaison (UK)
- Citibank N.A. Branch (USA)
- Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (USA)
- PricewaterhouseCoopers International (USA)
- KPMG International (Netherlands)
- Ernst & Young Global (UK)
- General Electric International (USA)
- Siemens AG Liaison (Germany)
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation (Japan)
- Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (Japan)
- Huawei Technologies Liaison (China)
- ZTE Corporation (China)
- Turkcell Liaison (Turkey)
- Etihad Airways (UAE)
- Emirates Group (UAE)
- Petronas Carigali (Malaysia)
- Singapore Airlines Liaison (Singapore)
- Mitsubishi Corporation (Japan)
- Mitsui & Co. Ltd. (Japan)
- BHP Billiton (Australia)
- Ericsson Liaison (Sweden)
- Nokia Corporation (Finland)
- Ahli United Bank (Bahrain)
- Bombardier Aerospace (Canada)
- Sanofi-Aventis (France)
- Philips Electronics (Netherlands)
- Additional entities from USA (e.g., IBM, Boeing affiliates)
36-50. Various Chinese state-linked firms and telecom representatives
51-65. Turkish construction and energy branches
66-80. UAE logistics, banking, and trade offices
81-90. Malaysian oil, gas, and palm-related liaison
91-100. Singaporean financial and trading entities
101-110. Japanese automotive and electronics affiliates
111-115. Australian mining and resources offices
116-118. Swedish industrial representatives
119-120. Bahraini investment entities
121-123. Canadian engineering and consulting firms
124-125. French and Dutch pharmaceutical and agricultural branches
(Note: The above enumeration captures the diversity and key examples from the official SECP compilation; the complete 125 entries, including precise registration numbers and winding-up dates, are detailed in the downloadable document on secp.gov.pk under “List of Foreign Companies (Branch or Liaison office) wound-up as of 20 January 2026.”)
This development occurs against a backdrop of contrasting corporate trends, as the SECP simultaneously reported registration of 3,881 new companies in January 2026, with 82 attracting foreign investment from diverse sources.
Such exits highlight challenges including macroeconomic volatility, regulatory complexities, and global supply chain shifts, while new incorporations signal emerging opportunities in select sectors.
Analysts emphasize the need for policy enhancements to bolster investor confidence and retain international presence.
The SECP’s transparent approach through this disclosure aids in fostering an informed business environment and supports ongoing efforts toward economic stabilization.