KARACHI - The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 296 companies during the month of May, 2009, 26 companies above the number of companies registered during the previous month of April. With new incorporations, the total corporate portfolio as on May 31, 2009 comprises of 53,324 registered companies. Of these 296 companies incorporated during May, 284 companies were limited by shares, comprising of one public unlisted company, 273 private companies and 10 single member companies. In addition, three associations not-for-profit under section 42 of the Cos Ordinance, 1984 and nine foreign companies were also registered. Total authorized capital and paid-up capital of 296 cos incorporated during May 2009 amounted to Rs 529m and Rs.122m, respectively. The number of new incorporations was highest at Lahore, whereby 111 companies have been registered, followed by Islamabad registering 87 companies, Karachi with 66 companies. Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad and Multan registered 20, 5, 5 and 2 companies respectively. The highest number of company incorporation was witnessed in the services sector comprising of 43 cos, followed by 40 in tourism, 34 in trading, 28 in construction, 22 in communication and 22 in information technology sector. During the month, the Commission granted licenses to 2 associations-not-for-profit under Section 42 of the Companies Ordinance, one for promotion of research and development, and other for social services.