Business
MNCs exit clouds startup growth | The Express Tribune
LAHORE:
At a time when Pakistan is grappling with the departure of some multinational giants, an unexpected surge in new business registrations has added a complex layer to the country’s investment outlook.
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has recently reported that 14,802 new companies were registered during the first four months of FY26, a development the regulator says reflects strong investor confidence. Yet business leaders warn that such growth does not offset the economic and reputational risks created when global corporations pull out.
The contrasting trends, fresh entrepreneurship on one hand and multinational exits on the other, have raised questions about whether Pakistan is entering a phase of renewal or quietly losing ground in global competitiveness.
Muddasir Masood Chaudhry, Senior Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Industrial and Traders Association Front (PIAF), says the recent uptick in registrations is encouraging, but it cannot overshadow the deeper systemic issues that continue to push international companies away.
SECP data shows that 99.9% of new incorporations were processed online, bringing the total number of registered companies in Pakistan to 272,918. The regulator added that the total paid-up capital recorded during July-October FY26 reached Rs20.59 billion ($74.1 million).
Private limited companies accounted for 59% of new registrations, while single-member firms made up 37%. The IT and e-commerce sectors led the surge with 2,999 new companies, followed by trading (1,954), services (1,807), and real estate development and construction (1,393).
Chaudhry acknowledges these numbers as a positive signal of domestic entrepreneurial activity but stresses that local dynamism alone cannot compensate for the strategic loss caused when major global players leave.
“Every exit of a multinational hurts not just foreign investor sentiment, but also local morale,” he said, adding, “When companies with decades of presence depart, it sends a message that doing business here has become unpredictable.”
The challenges, Chaudhry highlighted, include high corporate taxes, complex regulatory frameworks, heavy utility costs, and restrictions on moving profits abroad. He called on the government to introduce a simpler tax system with fewer, lower-rate taxes, ensure quick resolution of legal matters, and create an investment protection policy that encourages long-term commitment from foreign firms.
The pattern of exits has accelerated in recent years. Some global companies have restructured internationally, reallocating operations and retreating from multiple regions, a trend Pakistan cannot isolate itself from.
Shell Petroleum’s transition to a new operational model and the transfer of certain business units to local partners are one such example. But industry officials say not every departure can be explained by global realignment. Many firms have cited Pakistan’s difficult regulatory environment, profit repatriation restrictions, and high corporate taxation as decisive factors.
One senior executive of a multinational company, who requested anonymity, said, “It’s not that Pakistan lacks potential; the challenge is that the cost of operating here keeps shifting. Whether it’s profit repatriation delays or unexpected changes in tax policy, the uncertainty becomes the biggest barrier.”
Senior market analyst Muhammad Salman said that Pakistan has reached an inflection point. “The rise in new company registrations shows that local entrepreneurship is alive and resilient, but this alone cannot substitute for the stability, technology transfer, and long-term capital that multinationals provide. If Pakistan does not fix tax unpredictability, regulatory complexity, and the high cost of compliance, the divide between local energy and global withdrawal will keep widening.”
Meanwhile, SECP’s data also shows that investment interest is not completely drying up. Though the foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first four months of FY26 dropped by 26% as per the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), 332 newly registered companies received foreign capital between July and October, spanning sectors from IT to energy and manufacturing.
Nearly 30% of all new incorporations came from around 250 smaller cities and towns, demonstrating the widening reach of digital company registration.
Still, despite these positive signals, Chaudhry insisted that Pakistan cannot afford complacency. “New entrants are always welcome, but the departure of established multinationals is not something we can dismiss,” he said, adding, “When global companies restructure, Pakistan must adapt, but when they leave because our environment is too challenging, that is a warning we must take seriously.”
Shop price inflation eased in February but consumers are still paying 3.5% more for food than a year ago, figures show.
Overall shop inflation fell slightly to 1.1% from January’s 1.5%, in line with the three-month average of 1.1%, as fierce competition between retailers kept price rises in check and customers benefited from promotions across health, beauty and fashion, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and NIQ.
Prices of products other than food were down 0.1% year on year, a significant drop from January’s growth of 0.3%.
Overall food inflation fell slightly to 3.5% from 3.9% in January, while fresh food prices remained 4.3% higher than last February, a slight drop from January’s 4.4% and above the three-month average of 4.2%.
However falling global costs pushed ambient food inflation down to 2.3% – its lowest level in four years and a significant fall from January’s 3.1%.
BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “Households got some welcome relief in February as shop price inflation eased.
“While the direction of travel is promising, prices are still rising, and many consumers remain under pressure.”
Mike Watkins, head of retailer and business insight at NIQ, said: “Since the start of the year, we have seen some competitive pricing across both the food and non-food channels which is helping to bring down inflation.
“Whilst the inclement weather and weak sentiment is making consumer demand rather unpredictable for retailers, at least shoppers are now seeing some of their cost-of-living pressures start to ease.”
The Chancellor has been urged to scrap the proposed hike in fuel duty as concerns have been raised about the conflict in the Middle East.
Rachel Reeves announced last year that the long-held discount in fuel duty would be scrapped from September, with a 1p hike followed by two increases of 2p each in subsequent years.
But following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran at the weekend – which killed the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – concerns have been raised about the impact of oil price hikes which could hit consumers at the pumps.
Following the attack, the price of oil jumped to 80 US dollars a barrel, with some analysts suggesting it could rise above 100 dollars.
Speaking ahead of the spring statement, SNP economy spokesman Dave Doogan said: ““With real fears that prices at the pump are now set to soar because of the situation in the Middle East – instead of stubbornly doubling down, the Chancellor needs to scrap her price hike plans before motorists face a devastating double hit.
“Oil prices are already spiking – the last thing motorists and businesses now need is another damaging tax hike from the Labour Party.
“The Chancellor needs to see sense, recognise what is unfolding globally, and immediately scrap her plans to hike prices at pumps.
“Everyone knows that Keir Starmer’s Labour Party has broken their promise to cut energy bills by £300 – it would be another slap in the face for families if Labour made the cost-of-living crisis even worse with a plan that will inevitably increase prices.
“After 14 U-turns from this chaotic Labour Government – scrapping their plans to hike fuel duty is one U-turn motorists, businesses and families right across Scotland would actually welcome.”
A spokeswoman for the Treasury said: “We have extended the 5p fuel duty cut from this month to the end of August to support drivers across the country.”
Business
West Asia conflict: Govt may ask companies to cut exports, increase auto fuel, LPG supplies – The Times of India
NEW DELHI: Amid fears of a shortage in crude supplies, govt is looking to nudge refiners to divert more auto fuel and LPG to the domestic market by cutting on exports and also increase cooking gas production so that there is no disruption in local supplies.While govt and oil companies insisted there’s no shortage, refiners are looking at alternate sources to partly compensate for crude coming from war-hit West Asia.
The tension has led to a spike in oil and gas prices, and given India’s dependence on imports, inflating the import bill and stoking inflationary pressures. Officials, however, said retail fuel prices may not rise immediately, as oil marketing companies follow a calibrated approach — absorbing losses when global prices are high and recouping them when prices soften. Retail petrol and diesel prices have remained unchanged since April 2022.Mantri meets oil cos to assess availability of crude and gasOn a day when Iranian drones damaged part of Saudi Aramco refinery and Qatar Energy’s facilities, the world’s largest LNG producer, announced an export pause, petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri and his team of officials met oil companies on Monday to assess the availability of crude and gas. “We are continuously monitoring the evolving situation, and all steps will be taken to ensure availability and affordability of major petroleum products in the country,” the oil ministry said in a post on X.India imports nearly 90% of its crude requirement. It also meets 60-65% of its LPG demand and about 60% of its LNG needs through imports, largely from West Asia, with shipments routed via Strait of Hormuz, which risks being choked due to the war.
According to the International Energy Agency, in 2023, 5.9% of the country’s production was being exported. Between April and Dec 2025, India exported petroleum products worth nearly $330 billion, with the Netherlands, UAE, the US, Singapore, Australia and China being the main destinations. In 2024, it also exported petroleum gas worth $454 million, mostly to Nepal, China, and Myanmar. The Reliance refinery in Jamnagar is the largest exporter in the country.An oil company executive said refiners are already in contact with traders to tie up capacities amid fears of the blockade of Strait of Hormuz. By Monday, the global market had caught the jitters from Qatar’s decision to suspend gas shipments.An oil executive said while disruption could cause difficulties in the immediate term, Indian players had a wide portfolio that they can tap for LNG, including the US, with vessels being routed through the Suez Canal.“Even if there is a force majeure, we have other sources of supply, which we can tap. Besides, no one is going to stop supplies indefinitely,” the executive said. While oil and gas prices rose Monday, the focus is on ensuring that supply lines remain open.
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