The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has announced a significant development: Individual investors will be able to directly participate in and invest in Government Debt Securities (GDS), including Sukuk. This update was conveyed to Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb during his visit to the SECP Headquarters, where SECP officials shared detailed information about the GDS.

Government Debt Securities encompass a range of debt instruments such as Treasury Bills (T-Bills), Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs), Government of Pakistan (GoP) Ijarah Sukuk, and other securities issued by federal, provincial, and local governments, as well as statutory bodies.

During the meeting, the finance minister acknowledged SECP’s role in launching the GDS and emphasized the importance of creating liquidity in the secondary market. The SECP informed the minister that the government has already permitted money market schemes to invest in government debt securities traded through the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), aiming to maximize mutual funds’ participation in Sukuks and government securities.

SECP Chairman briefed the minister on various initiatives aimed at improving the ease of doing business in Pakistan. These include leveraging technological advancements through regulatory reforms, digitalization of services, and enhancing access to finance. The briefing also covered market development and innovation efforts, such as the regulatory sandbox and initiatives to promote startups.

The finance minister expressed keen interest in SECP’s initiatives related to sustainability reporting and investor education and protection. He expressed satisfaction with the launch of the ESG Sustain Portal and commended SECP’s efforts to provide a one-window solution for companies, digital document filing, and other investor facilitation initiatives like the Central Gateway Portal and Emlaak Financials.

Furthermore, the minister stressed the importance of raising awareness about SECP’s positive initiatives to maximize stakeholder benefits. He advised SECP to maintain close collaboration with the government for effective pension reform introduction and to work with other regulatory bodies to ensure seamless and efficient financial sector services. The minister assured SECP of the government’s support for legislative reform