ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has granted licences to 52 non-profit associations during 2011.

A press release issued by the SECP on Friday stated that at the end of December 2011, a total of 513 non-profit associations had been registered with the SECP under Section 42 of the Companies Ordinance, 1984.

Of the 52 licences, 12 were granted licence during the last quarter ending December 31, whereas 18, 15 and 7 were granted during the first, second and third quarters respectively. Of these, 13 associations were granted licences in the social services sector, followed by 12 in education, 11 in healthcare, 7 in charity, 4 in science, 2 each in the arts and commerce and 1 insports sector.

The associations to which licences were issued include Hawwa Memorial Hospital, Piyar Foundation, Diabetes Centre, Ophthalmological Society of Pakistan, WBM Foundation, Research Institute of Natural Resources of Pakistan, Belous Foundation, Radiance Welfare Foundation, Faiz Welfare Foundation, THAAP, PHA Foundation and the Education Enrichment Foundation.