ISLAMABAD The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has extended the last date for filing of annual returns by companies till Friday following the deteriorated law and order situation in Karachi.

Earlier, the last date of returns of (Form A/B) for companies was November 30.

The decision to extend the last date for filing of returns has been taken after the inability of companies to file their returns on time due to the carnage in Karachi during the last few days.

An official announcement issued here on Wednesday stated that companies which had not been able to submit their returns with the SECP`s Company Registration Office (CRO), Karachi, due to law and order situation, now have another opportunity to submit their returns till December 5.

Companies do not have to pay additional fee, as prescribed under the law. This has been done with the view to facilitate and ensure compliance by the companies.  But, the commission has also warned the companies that there could be no further extension in the deadline.