SECP triples Sahulat account limit, raises Sehl cap to Rs1 Million

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan has raised investment limits for simplified mutual fund accounts and removed several onboarding restrictions, in a move designed to make regulated investment products more accessible to retail investors.

According to a circular issued on Thursday, the maximum investment permitted through Sehl Accounts has been increased to Rs1 million from Rs200,000. The ceiling for Sahulat Accounts has been raised to Rs3 million from the previous Rs1 million.

The regulator has also abolished annual investment caps, allowing investors to subscribe to and redeem mutual fund units without fixed yearly limits.

In a further easing measure, customers who already maintain accounts with regulated financial institutions, including banks, microfinance banks and electronic money institutions, will no longer be required to complete a separate Know Your Customer (KYC) process when opening Sehl or Sahulat Accounts with asset management companies.

The SECP said these investors have already been verified by their respective institutions, eliminating the need to resubmit documents and repeat due diligence checks.

The commission also streamlined online account-opening procedures by reducing additional verification requirements, citing improvements in biometric authentication and liveliness detection systems.

The changes are intended to cut duplication, shorten processing times and improve operational efficiency for asset management companies.

The measures form part of the SECP’s broader effort to expand participation in Pakistan’s capital markets through simplified digital investment channels.

SECP Chairman Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu has set a target of increasing the number of capital market investors in Pakistan to 2.5 million.

The regulator said the initiative is expected to encourage more individuals to invest in mutual funds and other regulated financial products.