InvestPak opens Rs82tr market to small investors

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) launched InvestPak, a digital platform that allows individuals to invest directly in government securities, opening the Rs82 trillion sovereign debt market to ordinary citizens for the first time, according to a statement issued on Monday. Until now, investing in government bonds was largely restricted to banks, mutual funds and wealthy individuals. The new web portal and mobile app eliminates the need for paperwork and intermediaries, letting anyone with a bank account buy government securities from their phone. Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, who launched the platform in Karachi, said InvestPak advances the prime minister's vision of a digitally enabled and financially inclusive economy. "This is about making participation in the formal financial sector simpler, more inclusive, and more accessible for every segment of society," he said. Aur...