SECP implements regulatory reforms and digital banking integration in Pakistan

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has approved regulatory reforms designed to improve the country’s standing in the World Bank Group’s Business Ready (B READY) assessment. These measures aim to align Pakistan’s business framework with international standards and address gaps identified in previous evaluations. Pakistan previously ranked 17th out of 101 economies in the Business Entry category of the B READY 2025 Report.

As part of these digitalization and reform efforts, the SECP has completed a direct digital integration with Askari Bank Limited. This initiative uses an API to allow the bank to securely access verified company information directly from the SECP’s corporate registry. This integration is intended to reduce manual verification and paperwork, enabling newly incorporated companies to open corporate bank accounts more efficiently.

The SECP plans to expand these digital integrations to other financial institutions to further streamline business processes and reduce administrative delays for new enterprises in Pakistan.