SECP approves first digital lending product for women-led MSMEs
- Khudmukhtar Khatoon is Pakistan's first digital, Shariah-compliant financing product, empowering women-led MSMEs with crucial asset funding
Pakistan's SECP approved the first digital financing product, "Khudmukhtar Khatoon," for women-led MSMEs, aiming to boost financial inclusion and entrepreneurship.
- "Khudmukhtar Khatoon" digital, Shariah-compliant asset financing for women.
- Financing limits and fully online application via Hakeem app.
- SECP's push for financial inclusion for women entrepreneurs.
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) approved on Monday the country’s first digital financing product exclusively designed for women-led micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), aimed at improving access to formal finance for women entrepreneurs.
According to a statement, the product, titled as ‘Khudmukhtar Khatoon’, has been developed by Walee Financial Services and will offer fully digital, Shariah-compliant asset financing to women-owned businesses.
Under the scheme, eligible women entrepreneurs will be able to obtain financing ranging from Rs100,000 to Rs1.5 million, subject to credit assessment. The financing facility will be available through the company’s digital lending application, Hakeem, enabling applicants to complete the entire process online.
The approved financing can be used to purchase business-related assets through an integrated marketplace within the platform, with the selected assets delivered directly to borrowers’ registered addresses.
The repayment period will extend up to 12 months through equal monthly installments, allowing women-led enterprises to acquire productive assets while managing cash flows effectively.
The SECP said the initiative represented a significant step toward its broader agenda of promoting financial inclusion and expanding access to formal finance for women entrepreneurs.
Walee Financial Services, a licensed non-banking finance company (NBFC), is currently engaged in investment finance services and provides digital nano-financing through its mobile application.
The approval of the new product enables the company to expand its operations from consumer financing to the MSME segment.
The regulator noted that lending NBFCs were playing an increasingly important role in extending finance to underserved sectors.
“Collectively, these institutions disbursed approximately Rs111 billion in financing to around 7.5 million micro and small businesses during the July-December 2025 period,” it said.
The launch of the women-focused financing product is expected to support entrepreneurship and enhance financial inclusion among women-owned businesses across the country.
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