SECP approves digital financing of up to Rs3m for small businesses
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✧ GENERATE BRIEFING
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan has approved a digital financing facility offering Shariah-compliant loans of up to Rs3 million to eligible small businesses through the Shaamilkar Tajir application developed by Shaamilkar Financial Services. Announced by SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu, the platform aims to integrate underserved micro-entrepreneurs into formal credit channels by facilitating inventory purchases from approved suppliers. The initiative supports the federal Access to Finance agenda for SMEs, aligning with broader growth in non-bank financial lending that saw licensed NBFCs disburse approximately Rs253 billion across 2.5 million loans between July 2025 and June 2026. By utilizing technology platforms to reduce paperwork, the model expands digital financial inclusion under regulatory supervision.
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has approved a new digital financing facility offering Shariah-compliant financing of up to Rs3 million to eligible small businesses.
The facility will be provided through Shaamilkar Tajir, a digital application developed by SECP-licensed Shaamilkar Financial Services. The platform is designed to give micro-entrepreneurs faster access to financing for purchasing inventory from approved suppliers.
According to the SECP, the initiative is aimed at bringing businesses that remain underserved by the formal financial system into formal credit channels. The regulator said easier digital access to financing could help eligible businesses expand their operations.
SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu said technology-enabled financing could improve access to formal credit for underserved businesses. He added that the commission would support responsible digital financing while maintaining regulatory oversight and consumer protection.
The approval also supports the federal government’s broader Access to Finance agenda for SMEs and other priority sectors, with digital platforms increasingly being used to reduce barriers to obtaining formal financing.
The latest facility comes as lending by licensed non-bank financial companies (NBFCs) to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises continues to expand. Between July 2025 and June 2026, licensed lending NBFCs provided approximately Rs253 billion through 2.5 million loans to MSMEs.
The digital model is expected to simplify the financing process for small businesses by connecting eligible borrowers with approved suppliers through a technology-based platform, potentially reducing the paperwork and time associated with conventional financing.
The SECP’s approval is part of its wider push to expand digital financial services and improve financial inclusion while placing greater emphasis on consumer protection and regulatory oversight.
