Pakistan’s economic landscape has suffered a significant setback, with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) releasing a sobering list of 125 foreign companies that have formally ceased operations in the country as of January 20, 2026.
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has released a list of 125 foreign companies, comprising branch and liaison offices, that have been formally wound up as of January 20, 2026. The comprehensive document represents a major shift in Pakistan’s foreign corporate footprint.
These companies were engaged in various sectors of the economy, showcasing a broad foreign business presence before their shutdowns. The companies that have ceased operations in Pakistan hail from a wide range of countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the UAE, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Turkiye, Australia, Sweden, Bahrain, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and several others.
According to the SECP, these include branch and liaison offices of international firms that have formally closed their operations in major cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar. The dissolved firms spanned critical sectors including construction, engineering, trading, services, oil and gas exploration, technology, and banking.
Notable names on the exit list include energy giant ExxonMobil, electronics manufacturer Panasonic, German airline Lufthansa, and technology companies Dell and Nortel. The SECP clarified that these companies had officially completed the legal process required to close their branch or liaison offices in Pakistan.
The development highlights a significant shift in the foreign corporate footprint in the country, though the regulator has not provided specific reasons behind the closures. Analysts suggest multiple factors, including economic instability, regulatory challenges, security concerns, and shifting global investment priorities, may have contributed to the exodus.
The mass departure raises serious questions about Pakistan’s investment climate and its ability to attract and retain foreign businesses during a critical period when the country needs international capital and expertise to stabilize its struggling economy.
