Types of the Companies

Foreign Companies under

Companies Ordinance 1984
 Relevant law and Authorities
• Part XIV , Section 450 to 465 of the Companies
Ordinance 1984.
• Rules 22 & 23 of the Companies (General Provisions and Forms)
Rules, 1985
• Ministry of interior
– Security clearance
• BOARD OF INVESTMENT (BOI)
– A permission letter/NOC
• SECP
– Every foreign company
– Establishes a place of business in Pakistan
– Within 30 days
– deliver the requisite documents to the registrar concerned
 Status of Foreign
Companies

Liaison Branch
office office
 Place of Business
• A place of business includes
• branch,
• management,
• share transfer or
• registration
• office,
• factory,
• mine or fixed place of business.

• But does not include an agency.

 Exception (Place of Business)

• Company shall not be deemed to have an

established place of business in Pakistan
merely because it carries on business
dealings in Pakistan through a bona fide
broker or general commission agent acting in
the ordinary course of his business.
• A company is stated to be Foreign Company

• which was

• incorporated or formed

• outside Pakistan

• And established its place of business

• within Pakistan is called

 Permission of BOI

• A foreign company is required to obtain

permission letter from the Board of Investment
with a specific validity period for opening and
maintaining of its branch/liaison office in
Pakistan.

• Copy of such permission letter is required to be

furnished with the documents meant for
registration.
 Liaison Office:
• Liaison Office is established by a foreign
company for promotion of products(s),
provision of technical advice & assistance,
exploring the possibility of Joint
Collaboration and export promotion.
• Branch Office
• Branch Office is established by a foreign
company to fulfill its contractual obligations
with the public or private sector in Pakistan.
• Their activity will be restricted to the work
mentioned in the agreement / contract
signed.
 FOREIGN COMPANY REGISTRATION IN
PAKISTAN
A. OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM BOARD OF
INVESTMENT (BOI)

B. SEEK AVAILABILITY OF COMPANY NAME

C. DOCUMENTATION
 Domicile of a Company

• Domicile of a Company is very

important which decides
whether a Company is foreign or
not.
 Investment of Foreigners
• Foreign Interment is not a the factor which
decides about the Company’s status about its
foreign domicile.
• If a company is incorporated in Pakistan ,
whether with or without foreign investment.
It would be treated a Pakistani Company.
 Multinational Companies MNC
• Sometimes a company may incorporate a chain of
companies in many countries, such companies are
called MNCs. A MNC is just like any Pakistani
Company and is not provided any special status.
The registrar may , however allow MNC to have
original name with additional of word Pakistan e.g.
Lever Brother Pakistan Limited.

• Global audited accounts are the accounts which a

foreign company files with the authorities in
country of origin.
 Foreign Controlled Company
• A foreign controlled company means a
company (foreign or Pakistani) in which
the majority shareholdings and voting
power rests in the hands of foreigners.