The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) is seeking to accelerate digital financial services across the country’s capital markets, insurance sector and real estate investment trusts as part of efforts to widen access to regulated financial products.
SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu made the remarks during a meeting in Islamabad with senior executives from VEON and JazzWorld, including VEON Group CEO Kaan Terzioglu, JazzWorld CEO Aamir Ibrahim and Syed Zaheer Mehdi. SECP Commissioner Ali Farid Khawaja also attended the meeting.
The discussions centred on how digital platforms and technology can bring more retail investors into formal financial markets while improving public access to savings, investments, insurance and other regulated financial services.
Sidhu said greater digitalisation could help expand the reach of financial products beyond traditional channels and make participation in regulated markets easier for ordinary consumers. He also stressed that technology must go hand in hand with stronger financial literacy and investor education.
The meeting also highlighted VEON and JazzWorld’s long-term investment plans in Pakistan. The companies said they had invested about $11 billion in the country over the past three decades and intend to invest another $1 billion during the next three years.
The SECP chairman said digital outreach would play an important role in improving public understanding of investment opportunities, financial planning and responsible participation in financial markets.
Both sides agreed that expanding digital financial services should be accompanied by greater public awareness of financial products and the risks and responsibilities associated with investment decisions. The initiative reflects a broader push to use technology to make Pakistan’s formal financial system more accessible and inclusive.
