The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has introduced a digital onboarding framework aimed at making stock market investment easier, faster and more accessible for investors across Pakistan.
Under the new SECP digital onboarding framework, facilitation accounts will be opened within one day, while investor account applications will be decided within two days. The initiative is designed to simplify the account-opening process and encourage more people, particularly young investors, to participate in the capital market.
Investors will also receive a tracking ID that will allow them to monitor the progress of their applications. The new system is expected to improve transparency and reduce delays that can discourage potential investors from entering the stock market.
SECP Introduces 24/7 Digital Onboarding
The framework will allow investors to complete onboarding and application processing digitally on a 24/7 basis. This means prospective investors will have greater flexibility when applying for accounts without being restricted by traditional office hours.
The SECP has also introduced measures aimed at making the process more transparent. Brokers will be required to provide written reasons if they reject an application for opening an investor account.
The requirement is expected to give applicants greater clarity about why their applications were declined and what issues may need to be addressed.
Another important feature is the removal of unnecessary repeated verification. Investors who have already completed the required verification process will not have to undergo verification again.
Govt Targets 2.5m Stock Market Investors
The SECP aims to significantly expand participation in Pakistan’s capital market, with a target of increasing the number of investors to 2.5 million.
Greater participation by young people remains one of the regulator’s key priorities. The digital onboarding system is expected to help attract a new generation of investors by reducing paperwork, improving accessibility and speeding up account opening.
Technology is increasingly being used to simplify financial services, and the SECP believes similar digital solutions can help broaden participation in the stock market.
The regulator’s latest initiative could also help improve the overall investor experience by allowing applicants to track their applications and receive clearer information throughout the onboarding process.
SECP Chairman Highlights Technology’s Role
SECP Chairman Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu said technology was being used to make stock market investment easier for the public.
He said Pakistan’s capital market offered significant opportunities for growth and investment, highlighting the importance of making participation more accessible.
The new framework represents another step toward digitalising Pakistan’s capital market and reducing barriers for new investors.
By combining faster account opening, round-the-clock digital processing, application tracking and simplified verification, the SECP expects the framework to make stock market participation more convenient.
The regulator’s focus on young investors could also help broaden the investor base over the longer term and increase public participation in Pakistan’s capital markets.