Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has increased the investment limit for Sahulat Accounts from Rs. 1 million to Rs. 3 million, aiming to make stock market participation easier for small and first-time investors in Pakistan.
According to the regulator, the revised limit aligns Sahulat Account rules with investment thresholds already allowed in the banking sector and is designed to encourage broader participation in the country’s capital markets.
Under the updated framework, investors will also be allowed to open Sahulat Accounts with multiple licensed securities brokers. However, each investor can still maintain only one Sahulat Account with a single broker.
The Sahulat Account facility was introduced to simplify the process of investing in stocks. Individuals can open an account with a licensed broker using only their Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC), reducing documentation requirements and making the process faster and more accessible.
The initiative mainly targets first-time and small retail investors who previously avoided the stock market due to complicated account opening procedures. Sahulat Accounts are available through all licensed brokers and can also be opened online, enabling investors across the country to participate more easily.
According to SECP, the market currently has over 542,000 individual sub-accounts, including more than 144,000 investor accounts, some of which belong to participants investing through the Roshan Digital Account.
SECP said the latest reform is part of its broader efforts to simplify investment procedures and attract young investors to Pakistan’s regulated capital market, discouraging them from turning to unregulated foreign investment platforms.
