Choosing a partner in Pakistan is often the first real decision a foreign company or organisation makes about the country. A good partner saves months and avoids compliance risk. A poor one produces unsourced reports, unclear fees and, at worst, exposure under anti-bribery law. This checklist sets out what to ask before signing.
1. Is the firm legally registered?
Ask for the firm’s registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and check it on the SECP’s online services. A registered firm can sign a contract and issue invoices in its own name, which your finance and compliance teams will usually require. Be cautious about individuals offering firm-level services without a registered entity behind them.
2. Will it pass your compliance review?
Under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the UK Bribery Act 2010, a company can be liable for bribes paid by intermediaries acting on its behalf. Any partner that will deal with government bodies should commit in writing to:
- no payments, gifts or benefits to officials;
- no claims of influence over decisions and no promises of faster approvals;
- contact with public bodies only through official channels, with you present;
- written records of meetings and follow-up.
A partner who promises to “get things done quickly” through personal connections is a risk, not an advantage.
3. Is every finding sourced?
Ask to see a sample. A usable report on Pakistan references every material figure to a source you can check, such as the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the State Bank of Pakistan, the SECP, the Federal Board of Revenue or a sector regulator, and states plainly where data is missing or old. Much official material is published only on Pakistani portals or in Urdu, so ask whether the team works with Urdu-language sources.
4. Are the fees clear before work starts?
Ask for a fixed fee in writing, a defined scope and a delivery date. Published starting fees are a good sign: they let you compare providers before the first call. Be wary of open-ended hourly billing for desk work with no estimate.
5. Will your information stay confidential?
Check whether the firm will sign a non-disclosure agreement before detailed scoping, who will see your information, and whether commissioned work could be published. Research institutes that also publish should separate commissioned work from their public output.
6. Does the firm do the work you actually need?
Be clear about the difference between desk research, fieldwork (surveys and interviews), and legal or tax advice. Many questions about market structure, regulation and policy can be answered through desk research. Consumer surveys need a fieldwork provider. Legal opinions and tax filings need a licensed lawyer or accountant. A good partner will tell you which you need and work alongside your other advisers rather than overreaching.
7. Can it work in your time zone and language?
For clients abroad, check that the firm delivers in English, invoices in your currency, and can hold calls at workable hours. Pakistan is on UTC+5.
Where PIVRA fits
PIVRA is an SECP-registered research and policy institute in Lahore. It publishes its starting fees, quotes every engagement as a fixed fee in writing, signs NDAs on request, references findings to primary sources in English and Urdu, and follows written compliance standards aligned with the FCPA and the UK Bribery Act. See Investor Support and all services, or request a quote: we reply within two business days.