SECP grants licence to first-ever online-only securities broker

KARACHI: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has granted a licence to Tamkeen Securities (Pvt) Ltd, Pakistan’s first fully digital, online-only securities broker, marking a significant milestone. The award of the licence marks a significant leap toward modernising the country’s capital markets, enhancing accessibility and democratising investment opportunities for retail and institutional investors nationwide.

The newly licensed digital brokerage house will allow investors to open accounts and execute trades, completely eliminating the need for physical visits, paperwork or traditional brokerage channels. This initiative aligns with the SECP’s strategic vision to accelerate digital transformation, promote financial inclusion and strengthen Pakistan’s capital markets through innovation, said a press release on Monday.

With this development, Pakistan joins the ranks of global markets that have successfully implemented fully digital trading platforms, catering to the evolving needs of tech-savvy investors and boosting retail participation in the stock market. The fully digital onboarding transaction process is expected to attract a wider range of investors, fostering greater stock market participation, enhancing liquidity and strengthening investor confidence.

Developing digital intermediaries is a focus area of the commission. Prior to this, under the digital framework, an asset management company and a life insurance company have been licensed while an application for digital only non-life insurance is under process. Digital intermediaries, apart from a lower cost structure, have wider outreach and the ability to have built-in compliance mechanisms.