Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb visited the headquarters of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) on Wednesday, where he reviewed a series of regulatory and capital market reforms, including a decision to triple the investment limit under the Sahulat Account from Rs. 1 million to Rs. 3 million.
During a high level meeting chaired by the finance minister, SECP Chairman Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu and the commission’s members briefed him on recent developments in Pakistan’s corporate sector, capital markets, non banking financial sector, and ongoing regulatory reforms.
The SECP informed the minister that it has formally launched the Capital Market Development Fund to support the growth of Pakistan’s capital markets. It also said work is underway on an artificial intelligence based company registration system and a simplified digital platform for gold trading through a mobile application.
The commission said it has approved 10 initial public offerings (IPOs) since January 2026 and resolved long standing issues involving the Chinese consortium at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). It has also conditionally approved the demerger scheme for PSX’s real estate assets.
The SECP said a central Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) registry portal has been completed and companies have started submitting ownership information. Business Facilitation Centers are also being established in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi to improve the ease of doing business.
In the insurance sector, the commission highlighted the implementation of mandatory third party motor insurance in Sindh, with automatic compensation of Rs. 700,000 for accident victims without requiring court proceedings. It said commercial vehicle insurance policies have increased by 1,300 percent, rising from 11,000 to more than 165,000, and similar reforms are planned for Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan.
The regulator also briefed the minister on new initiatives, including Shariah compliant financing products for women entrepreneurs, retirement annuity products, a crop insurance consortium, simplified digital mutual fund account opening, and reforms aimed at expanding Islamic finance.
Aurangzeb also appreciated the SECP’s enforcement efforts, including the issuance of notices to state owned enterprises for regulatory violations, and reaffirmed the government’s support for strengthening corporate governance, investor confidence, and Pakistan’s financial markets.
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