SECP reports 21pc growth in non-banking financial sector assets in first half of fiscal year

KARACHI (Dunya News) - The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has released the first half-year report for Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) for the current fiscal year, showing robust growth across multiple segments of the sector.

According to the report, total assets of the non-banking financial sector rose to Rs6.84 trillion, marking a 21 percent increase over the six-month period.

Assets grew from Rs5.63 trillion as of June 2025 to Rs6.84 trillion by December 2025, highlighting strong momentum in the sector.

Mutual fund assets stood at Rs4.5 trillion, with the number of funds increasing from 369 to 409. Investor accounts in mutual funds reached 845,000, reflecting an 8 percent rise in new accounts since June 2025.

Investments were concentrated in money market funds (44 percent) and income funds (23 percent), while equity funds accounted for 14 percent of total investment.

Participation in voluntary pension schemes also showed a significant rise, with more than 143,000 participants, marking a 30 percent growth in pension scheme accounts over the six months.

SECP mandates digital conversion of physical shares for non-listed companies

The report further highlighted the expansion of NBFCs engaged in lending activities, whose assets reached Rs824 billion, with the lending sector witnessing a 65 percent increase.

Shariah-compliant assets stood at Rs2.47 trillion, contributing to an overall growth of 36 percent in compliant investments.

SECP emphasized that these trends indicate a strengthening of Pakistan’s non-banking financial sector, driven by investor confidence in mutual funds, pension schemes, and lending institutions.