Cdc Fee Relief For Unlisted Companies' Digital Share Conversion In Pakistan

On February 27, 2026, the Central Depository Company (CDC) announced a significant fee relief package aimed at facilitating the conversion of physical shares into digital book-entry form for unlisted companies in Pakistan. This initiative, requested by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), waives the annual fee for companies with paid-up capital up to Rs. 25 million for the first year. Additionally, all security deposit fees and initial conversion deposits will be waived for all unlisted companies during this period. For companies with paid-up capital exceeding Rs. 25 million, only the applicable annual fee will be required, while other conversion-related charges remain waived. The SECP's SRO 328(I)/2026 mandates this transition, highlighting its goal to modernize the corporate framework and promote a secure, efficient, and paperless shareholding environment. The SECP stated, "The measure is designed to facilitate the transition of unlisted companies to the Central Depository System and reduce the financial burden associated with digitizing shareholding records," emphasizing the importance of this shift towards digitalization in corporate governance (Business Recorder, 2026; Profit Pakistan, 2026).