Pakistan to launch investor-friendly stock market app next month

Scheduled for launch in July 2026, the Asaan Connect App is a flagship digital initiative being developed under the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP)’s guidance to simplify access to investment services including stock market.

The country’s top securities regulator in a statement said this initiative will expand financial inclusion, and attract a new generation of investors through a convenient and user-friendly digital experience.

The SECP said Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu was briefed about the upcoming application in a meeting of the Board of Directors and senior management of the Central Depository Company of Pakistan Limited (CDCPL) in Karachi.

According to the CDC, Asaan Connect is a centralised onboarding portal launched by the CDC with the objective of making the investment process easier and more accessible for investors in multiple types of assets.

“Asaan Connect is a centralised platform wherein investors can maintain a standardised profile with KYC/AML procedures performed one-time, and can leverage the platform to proceed for onboarding in diverse investment avenues (such as stocks, mutual funds, insurance products, etc.) without having to undergo repetitive processes with each financial institution,” it said.

The SECP chairman on Wednesday said that the effective use of financial technology will make capital market investing simpler, safer, and more accessible for all Pakistanis, enabling ordinary citizens to participate in the country’s economic growth and wealth creation.

The meeting, chaired by Dr. Sidhu, also discussed CDCPL’s strategic restructuring plans, including the separation of core depository functions from non-core businesses such as trustee services. The initiative is intended to strengthen governance arrangements and facilitate the potential future listing of non-core operations on the Pakistan Stock Exchange while preserving the systemic importance of core depository functions.

The SECP chairman appreciated CDCPL’s contribution to Pakistan’s capital market infrastructure and commended its technological capabilities, governance standards, and close collaboration with SECP. He assured SECP’s full support for technological innovation, digital transformation, and initiatives aimed at making investing easier, safer, and more accessible for all Pakistanis.

CEO of CDC Badiuddin Akber briefed the forum on recent technology-driven initiatives designed to improve market accessibility, strengthen investor protection, and simplify investment processes.

He reaffirmed CDC’s commitment to working closely with SECP to support the development and modernisation of Pakistan’s capital markets.