Portal launched for digital investment in govt papers
Wire desk byline Sourced from Xinhua, Dawn, Arab News, Anadolu and Minute Mirror. Translated and abridged by the GSRRA Desk.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday launched a new digital platform, opening another channel for individuals and corporates to invest in government securities.
According to the SBP, web portal InvestPak has been developed to digitise the process of investing in government papers for customers maintaining rupee accounts with banks, primary dealers (PDs) and microfinance banks (MFBs).
Government securities are currently issued through auctions of Market Treasury Bills (MTBs) and Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs). In addition, the government has recently begun raising funds through the stock market using Sukuk bonds.
As of June 30, 2025, investment in government securities had reached Rs46.566 trillion. Scheduled banks held Rs38.7tr, or 83 per cent of the total, while corporates held Rs7.856tr, or 17pc. The inclusion of individual investors through InvestPak is expected to further increase investment in government papers and add to the government’s already substantial domestic borrowing.
Individuals, corporates can now invest via InvestPak
The SBP said the portal enables customers of financial institutions (FIs) to digitally open Investor Portfolio of Securities (IPS) accounts, place bids in primary auctions, and buy or sell securities in the secondary market — all without visiting a bank or financial institution.
“All banks are mandated to facilitate their customers in registering on the portal. MFBs are also encouraged to help their customers register. All FIs must ensure high service standards and a smooth user experience,” the SBP said in a circular issued on Thursday.
FIs have been granted access to the portal, which caters to both primary auctions and secondary market trading of government securities. They can also customise their treasury operations across front, middle, and back offices to align with the new system.
All individuals, joint account holders, and corporates with rupee bank accounts are eligible to register digitally on the portal using their IBAN (International Bank Account Number).
Customers who do not already hold an IPS account can request its opening through the portal when registering with their respective financial institution.
“The portal allows individuals and corporates to link and operate multiple rupee and IPS accounts across different FIs through a single registered account,” the SBP said.
FIs are required to process each registration or onboarding request and communicate their decision to the customer within two working days.
Reference Link:- https://www.dawn.com/news/1953615
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
