Oraan has reached a significant milestone by securing a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) license. This license enables Oraan to expand its offerings, particularly in education financing, providing students and their families with more accessible financial options.
Oraan has been a leader in financial inclusion in Pakistan, designing intuitive products for hundreds of thousands of users. One of their flagship products, Oraan Committees, has already made notable progress in the market. With the newly acquired NBFC license, Oraan is set to advance its mission of making finance accessible and equitable for everyone.
Education in Pakistan faces several critical challenges that hinder students’ access to quality education. The average cost of tertiary education has soared to PKR 574,472 annually, nearly 80% of the top quartile’s average income, making higher education increasingly unaffordable for many families. Additionally, students at private institutions enjoy better resources and facilities, but these come at a significantly higher cost, creating substantial barriers for students from less affluent backgrounds. Furthermore, Pakistan allocates only 1.7% of its GDP to education, leaving many students without the necessary financial support to pursue their academic aspirations.
With the NBFC license, Oraan aims to revolutionize educational finance by offering accessible and inclusive financing solutions. This initiative is designed to bridge the affordability gap, allowing more students to pursue quality education without the burden of unsustainable debt. Oraan’s first use case for credit focuses on the education sector, where the company has spent years understanding the needs and challenges faced by customers and educational institutions. This in-depth research has shaped Oraan’s approach to providing effective financial solutions tailored to the educational landscape.
Oraan extends its gratitude to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) for granting the NBFC license. The company also thanks the educational institutions and students who have collaborated closely in identifying and addressing the challenges within the sector. Their invaluable input has been instrumental in shaping Oraan’s product during the pilot phase.
With this license, Oraan is poised to make a significant impact on educational finance in Pakistan, ensuring that more students have the opportunity to access quality education without financial constraints. This initiative underscores Oraan’s mission of making finance more accessible and equitable for all.
