The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has approved a package of regulatory reforms aimed at improving Pakistan’s performance in the World Bank Group’s Business Ready (B-READY) assessment, with a particular focus on strengthening the country’s business-entry environment.
Pakistan already performed strongly in the B-READY 2025 Business Entry category, ranking 17th out of 101 economies with a score of 86.64. The newly approved measures are intended to close remaining regulatory and institutional gaps and bring corporate procedures closer to international practices.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Regulator: Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan
- Framework: World Bank Group Business Ready (B-READY)
- Pakistan’s B-READY 2025 Business Entry rank: 17th
- Economies assessed: 101
- Pakistan’s Business Entry score: 86.64
- Key reform areas: Digital data sharing, business permits, SME support and gender data
- FBR integration: Expanded API-based information sharing
- Environmental approvals: Planned digital access through SECP platforms
- Gender data: Statistics on women shareholders, directors, CEOs and beneficial owners
- SME and women-focused programmes: Government support information to be made publicly accessible
Pakistan Already Ranks Strongly in Business Entry
The B-READY framework evaluates how effectively economies create conditions for businesses to start, operate and expand.
The World Bank’s assessment looks at three broad pillars: Regulatory Framework, Public Services and Operational Efficiency. Its 2025 edition covered 101 economies as part of the framework’s three-year rollout.
Pakistan’s 17th-place ranking in Business Entry indicates relatively strong performance in the processes and regulatory environment surrounding the establishment of businesses.
The SECP’s latest reforms are intended to build on that position by addressing areas where additional improvements could generate further gains in future B-READY assessments.
SECP Expands Digital Data Sharing With FBR
One of the major reforms involves expanding automated sharing of updated company information with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) through application programming interfaces, or APIs.
The initiative will be implemented in coordination with the Board of Investment (BoI) and is designed to reduce duplication while making corporate compliance more streamlined.
Rather than requiring businesses and government agencies to repeatedly exchange the same information manually, automated data-sharing infrastructure can allow relevant government systems to access updated corporate information more efficiently.
This is part of Pakistan’s wider push toward digitizing regulatory processes and reducing administrative friction for businesses.
Businesses to Get Easier Access to Permit Information
SECP has also approved measures aimed at improving access to information about environmental approvals and operating permits.
Once the relevant information is compiled by the responsible authorities, it will be made accessible through SECP’s website.
The goal is to provide businesses with a more centralized point of reference for regulatory requirements rather than forcing entrepreneurs to navigate multiple government sources to determine which approvals and permits they need.
This could be particularly useful for new businesses trying to understand regulatory obligations before beginning operations.
Government Support for SMEs and Women Entrepreneurs
Another component of the reform package focuses on improving access to information about publicly funded programmes supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and women entrepreneurs.
SECP plans to make information about these programmes available through its digital platforms.
The initiative is intended to improve awareness of existing government support and make it easier for businesses to identify relevant programmes, financing opportunities and other forms of assistance.
Improving visibility of these programmes could also help address the information gap that prevents eligible businesses from taking advantage of existing government initiatives.
SECP to Track Gender Data in New Companies
The reforms also introduce a stronger focus on gender-disaggregated corporate data.
SECP will publish statistics on newly incorporated companies covering the participation of women as:
- Shareholders
- Directors
- Chief executives
- Ultimate beneficial owners
The availability of this data can provide policymakers with a clearer picture of women’s participation in Pakistan’s formal corporate sector.
It can also help measure progress in policies aimed at improving women’s participation in entrepreneurship and business ownership.
Reforms Target International Business Standards
The latest measures are part of a broader effort to bring Pakistan’s regulatory environment closer to international benchmarks.
Earlier in June, SECP and the Board of Investment reviewed progress on regulatory reforms linked to the B-READY framework. The BoI identified 14 priority reform areas, while SECP said it had already implemented most of the proposed measures. Reforms completed by September 1, 2026, were expected to be considered for the World Bank’s next assessment cycle.
The two institutions have been working together to remove regulatory bottlenecks, improve coordination and create a more transparent and investor-friendly business environment.
Why B-READY Matters for Pakistan
The World Bank’s B-READY assessment is designed to provide comparable information on the business and investment environment across economies.
For Pakistan, improvements in the assessment can have significance beyond the ranking itself.
A more efficient business-entry system can reduce the time and administrative burden involved in starting a company, while better access to regulatory information can improve predictability for investors.
Digital information-sharing systems can also reduce duplication between government agencies and potentially lower compliance costs for businesses.
The World Bank describes B-READY as an assessment of factors affecting firms, workers, consumers, potential new enterprises and the broader business environment.
Digitalization Is Becoming Central to Regulatory Reform
The SECP reforms reflect a wider shift in Pakistan toward digitally enabled regulation.
API-based government data exchange, centralized access to permits and online corporate information can help move regulatory processes away from fragmented, paper-based systems.
For businesses, the potential benefits include fewer repetitive submissions, easier access to government information and greater transparency around regulatory requirements.
For government agencies, integrated data can improve the ability to monitor corporate activity and coordinate regulatory responsibilities.
What the Reforms Could Mean for Investors and Businesses
For entrepreneurs, the reforms could make it easier to understand regulatory requirements before establishing or expanding a business.
For investors, greater transparency and more standardized procedures can improve confidence in the regulatory environment.
For policymakers, the new gender-disaggregated corporate data could provide a stronger evidence base for designing programmes aimed at increasing women’s participation in the formal economy.
Meanwhile, improved coordination between SECP, FBR and BoI could help reduce regulatory fragmentation across federal institutions.
Pakistan’s Next B-READY Assessment
SECP’s latest measures are intended to strengthen Pakistan’s position in future B-READY assessments rather than simply maintain its existing ranking.
The country’s 86.64 score and 17th position in Business Entry in B-READY 2025 provide a relatively strong starting point. The focus now is on closing remaining gaps through digitalization, institutional coordination, better access to regulatory information and more detailed corporate data.
If implementation proceeds effectively, the reforms could improve both Pakistan’s international business-readiness indicators and the practical experience of companies operating in the country.
Why This Matters
The latest SECP reforms show that Pakistan’s regulatory modernization agenda is increasingly moving beyond individual rule changes toward integrated digital government systems.
The expansion of FBR data-sharing APIs, centralized permit information, improved visibility of SME and women-focused programmes, and gender-disaggregated corporate statistics all address different aspects of the business environment.
For Pakistan, the larger objective is not simply a better B-READY ranking. It is to create a business environment where starting and operating a company involves fewer administrative hurdles, clearer regulatory requirements and more predictable interactions with government.
FAQs
What is Pakistan’s B-READY ranking?
Pakistan ranked 17th out of 101 economies in the Business Entry category of the World Bank’s B-READY 2025 assessment, with a score of 86.64.
What is B-READY?
Business Ready, or B-READY, is a World Bank Group assessment that measures aspects of the business and investment environment across economies. It evaluates areas through three pillars: Regulatory Framework, Public Services and Operational Efficiency.
What is SECP changing?
The reforms include expanded API-based company-data sharing with FBR, centralized access to information about environmental approvals and operating permits, publication of information on government programmes for SMEs and women entrepreneurs, and gender-disaggregated data on newly incorporated companies.
How will API data sharing help businesses?
Automated data exchange can reduce duplication by allowing government agencies to share updated corporate information digitally rather than requiring businesses to repeatedly submit the same information.
Will information about business permits be available online?
SECP says information on environmental approvals and operating permits will be made accessible through its website once it is compiled by the relevant authorities.
Why is SECP publishing gender-disaggregated company data?
The data will track women’s participation as shareholders, directors, chief executives and ultimate beneficial owners of newly incorporated companies. This can help policymakers assess women’s participation in the formal corporate sector.
When will these reforms affect Pakistan’s B-READY performance?
SECP and the Board of Investment have been working on priority reforms for the B-READY framework. Measures completed by September 1, 2026 were expected to be considered for the World Bank’s next assessment cycle.
