The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and the Iqra University Center for Excellence in Islamic FinTech launched a two-month investment competition titled “Empowered Women – Ethical Investments.” Female students, faculty, and staff from universities throughout Pakistan are eligible to participate in the contest.
Sheikh Ebrahim bin Khalifa Al Khalifa served as the chief guest during the official launch ceremony. Commissioner Imtiaz Haider stated that increasing women’s involvement in the financial sector requires better financial awareness and more informed investment choices.
Haider noted that the SECP approved Khudmukhtar Khatoon, which is the first digital financing product in Pakistan designed specifically for micro, small and medium enterprises led by women. The regulator highlighted that the product features simplified account-opening procedures to help women enter the capital market more easily.
Data from 30 June 2026 shows that women made up 59 percent of active borrowers in the Non-Banking Finance Company sector. Women accounted for 82 percent of the non-banking microfinance sector as of the same date.
