An attempt has been made to make the process of opening an account easier for those wishing to invest in the stock market in Pakistan. The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has introduced a new digital onboarding framework for online registration of investors.
The new system aims to provide investors with easier and faster access to the capital market. Under this, the need to visit an office or broker to submit an application will be reduced and the process can be completed mostly digitally.
According to the SECP, under the new framework, a convenience account can be opened in one day, while a decision on a general investor account application will be made in a maximum of two days. Investors will be able to submit an application online at any time of the day or night.
The new system also provides a tracking ID facility to monitor the application. Through this, the applicant will be able to see the current status of his application online.
The framework has also set clear rules for brokers. If an application is rejected, the broker will have to explain the reason in writing. This move is expected to increase transparency in the process of examining applications.
An important aspect of the new procedure is that already verified investors will not have to go through the identity re-verification stage every time. SECP is already pushing forward the digital KYC and bank account-based verification system.
According to SECP records, the commission had also approved a central digital onboarding system for various financial sectors in 2023. Its aim was to make it easier to access various related services by collecting KYC information once.
According to SECP Chairman Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu, the process of investing in the capital market is being made more accessible to the common citizen through the use of technology. He has also set a target of increasing the number of investors to 2.5 million.
This move comes at a time when focus is being placed on increasing the participation of new investors in the capital market in Pakistan. According to the SECP, the number of stock market investor accounts recorded a significant increase on a year-on-year basis in July 2026.
The new digital onboarding framework is expected to reduce paperwork and unnecessary delays faced at the time of account opening. This may result in more people being able to join the formal investment system.
However, investing in the stock market also involves financial risks. The ease of opening an account does not mean that every investment will be profitable. It is important for investors to understand the risks of the market and the relevant laws before making an investment decision.
