The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and Iqra University’s Center for Excellence in Islamic FinTech (IU-CEIF) have launched a two-month investment competition titled “Empowered Women – Ethical Investments” to promote financial awareness and practical investment skills among women across Pakistan. The initiative is designed for female university students, faculty members and staff, providing participants with an opportunity to develop their understanding of investment decisions and explore Shariah-compliant financial products. The programme combines financial education with practical exposure to investing, encouraging women to become more familiar with ethical investment opportunities and the workings of financial markets. Through the collaboration, the SECP and IU-CEIF aim to make investment knowledge more accessible to women in academic institutions and encourage informed participation in Pakistan’s financial system.
Speaking at the launch in Karachi, SECP Commissioner Imtiaz Haider highlighted the regulator’s initiatives to improve women’s access to financial services and investment opportunities. These measures include Pakistan’s first digital financing product exclusively designed for women-led micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), alongside simplified procedures for opening capital market accounts. Such initiatives address different aspects of women’s participation in the financial system, ranging from access to business financing to the ability to invest in capital market products. The investment competition adds an educational component to these efforts by focusing on financial awareness and practical decision-making. Participants will have the opportunity to build familiarity with investment options and understand how Shariah-compliant principles can be applied when evaluating financial products. The programme also reflects the role of universities and specialised academic centres in supporting financial literacy initiatives beyond conventional classroom learning.
The figures shared at the launch highlight the existing participation of women in parts of Pakistan’s non-bank financial sector. Women account for 59% of active borrowers in the non-banking finance company (NBFC) sector and 82% of active borrowers in non-banking microfinance. During fiscal year 2025–26, non-banking microfinance institutions disbursed Rs. 236.2 billion to women. These figures indicate the scale of financing reaching female borrowers through non-bank institutions and provide context for the SECP’s focus on expanding financial access. However, access to borrowing and participation in investment markets represent different dimensions of financial inclusion. The new competition seeks to address the latter by helping women develop the knowledge and confidence needed to evaluate investment opportunities, understand associated risks and make informed financial decisions. Its focus on ethical and Shariah-compliant investments also introduces participants to financial options aligned with Islamic investment principles.
The two-month competition is expected to provide a structured opportunity for female students, faculty and university staff to engage with investment concepts and develop practical skills. By bringing together the SECP and IU-CEIF, the initiative connects financial regulation with academic expertise in Islamic FinTech. The programme’s emphasis on Shariah-compliant investing is particularly relevant to participants interested in understanding ethical investment choices and the principles that guide them. The announcement does not specify the competition’s registration process, investment instruments, prize structure or detailed evaluation criteria. Further information on these aspects will help interested participants understand how to take part and what activities will be included. Through “Empowered Women – Ethical Investments”, the two institutions aim to encourage greater financial awareness among women and support their ability to participate more actively in investment-related decisions across Pakistan.
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