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Entering Pakistan means dealing with several authorities at once: the Board of Investment, the SECP, the FBR, customs, your bank and provincial tax offices. KLA Pakistan brings all of it under one roof, so your team works with one advisor instead of a dozen offices.
Choose the right structure for your business
Branch office
For a foreign company carrying out a specific contract in Pakistan. It needs Board of Investment permission and registration with the SECP, and its work is limited to that contract.
Liaison office
For product promotion, technical support, exploring joint ventures and export promotion. A liaison office cannot carry on commercial or trading activity in Pakistan.
Private limited company with foreign promoters
A Pakistani company owned fully or partly by foreign individuals. It can trade, import, hire and earn income like any local company.
Subsidiary of a foreign company
A Pakistani private limited company owned by your overseas parent company. Dividends are sent abroad through your bank under State Bank of Pakistan rules.
Private limited company with a foreign corporate shareholder
A joint venture in which a foreign company holds shares alongside Pakistani partners. We help structure the shareholding and the paperwork for both sides.
Everything under one roof
From the first approval to day-to-day running, we manage the complete set-up so you can focus on your business.
- Company incorporation with the SECP
- Board of Investment permission for branch and liaison offices
- Security clearance filings for foreign directors and shareholders, where required
- NTN, sales tax and provincial tax registration
- Corporate bank account and foreign investment registration through your bank
- Import and export registration on the Pakistan Single Window (PSW)
- Chamber of commerce membership
- Customs clearing and forwarding for your shipments
- Introductions to reliable local vendors and suppliers
- Introductions to importers, distributors and buyers in Pakistan through our business network
- Monthly accounting and bookkeeping
- Income tax, sales tax and withholding tax compliance
- Statutory audit, annual SECP filings and office renewals
How we work with you
- Discovery call:
we learn about your business, your timeline and the structure that fits.
- Documents:
we send a checklist and guide you through notarising and attesting papers in your home country.
- Approvals:
we file with the Board of Investment, SECP, FBR and other bodies, and follow up until approval.
- Start trading:
bank account, PSW registration, customs clearing and local vendors.
- Stay compliant:
accounting, tax returns, audit and renewals, every year.
Good to know before you start
The Board of Investment grants branch and liaison office permission for one to five years, and it can be renewed. According to the Board of Investment, permission is usually issued about seven weeks after other agencies have given their comments.
Neither a branch nor a liaison office may carry on commercial or trading activity. If you plan to buy, sell or import for resale, a private limited company is usually the right choice.
Documents from your home country, such as your certificate of incorporation and board resolution, must be notarised and attested by the Pakistani embassy or consulate before they are filed.
Note: government fees, timelines and rules change from time to time. We confirm the current requirements for your case before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreign investor own 100% of a company in Pakistan?
In most sectors, yes. A few sectors have limits or need special permission, so we check your sector before you apply.
Do foreign directors and shareholders need security clearance?
Foreign nationals and foreign companies joining a Pakistani company may need security clearance from the Ministry of Interior. We prepare the filing and track it for you.
Can we start importing straight away?
Importing through the Pakistan Single Window needs a registered business with an NTN and a bank account, so incorporation and tax registration come first. We plan these steps together so there is no waiting in between.
Can you work with our head office abroad?
Yes. We coordinate with your head office by email, video call or WhatsApp, and prepare the paperwork so your team only signs what is needed.
