KARACHI: Pakistan has taken a major step toward modernising its financial ecosystem with the launch of InvestPak, a fully digital portal that allows individuals and corporations to invest directly in government securities — a space long dominated by banks and institutional players.
Developed by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the portal streamlines the entire investment process, enabling investors to open an Investor Portfolio of Securities (IPS) account online, participate in primary auctions, and trade in the secondary market without stepping inside a bank branch. The SBP says the initiative is designed to make government debt instruments more accessible, transparent and convenient for the public.
As of June 30, 2025, total investment in government papers had reached an enormous Rs 46.566 trillion. Scheduled banks hold nearly 83 per cent of this amount, with corporate entities accounting for the remaining 17 per cent. By extending direct access to individuals, policymakers hope to deepen market participation and broaden the investor base.
Under the new mechanism, any rupee-account holder — whether an individual or a corporate entity — can register using their IBAN and apply online for an IPS account. Financial institutions are required to digitally onboard users within two working days, while microfinance banks have been encouraged to register their customers as well. The system also allows users to link multiple rupee and IPS accounts across different institutions under a single login.
Officials say the portal supports both primary auction bidding for Market Treasury Bills (MTBs) and Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs), as well as buying and selling in the secondary market. The streamlined architecture is expected to align banks’ treasury operations — including front, middle and back offices — with the digital platform, improving efficiency and reducing manual intervention.
Financial experts view InvestPak as a pivotal move, one that could encourage more Pakistanis to explore low-risk investment options while helping the government diversify its borrowing channels. By lowering barriers and digitising participation, the SBP aims to foster a more inclusive investment culture, especially among retail investors who previously found the process cumbersome or inaccessible.
With Pakistan’s financial sector steadily digitising, the launch of InvestPak marks a defining shift in how citizens engage with the country’s economic instruments — signalling a future where public investment becomes simpler, broader and more transparent.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.