ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has licensed Salaam Family Takaful Limited (SFTL) as the country’s “first ever” digital Islamic life insurance provider, Pakistani state media reported Thursday.
Akif Saeed, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), handed the license to Rizwan Hussain, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Salaam Family Takaful Limited.
The SFTL will provide Shariah-compliant, end-to-end digital offerings as per the stipulations and guidelines of the SECP, the APP news agency reported.
“With this license of our new company, we will be revealing a new brand very soon, which will not only resonate with our values of customer centricity and innovation but will also introduce the much-needed game changing Islamic Life Insurance and Savings offering, never seen before in Islamic Life Insurance segment across the globe,” the report quoted Hussain as saying.
“We have done extensive work in developing a comprehensive infrastructure to be the first ever digital only Life Takaful operator, and in’sha’Allah our products will provide an exquisite digital experience.”
The SFTL said the endorsement signified that its operations and offerings were “completely Shariah-compliant,” according to the report.
The organization would introduce products that would not be the usual life insurance or family takaful products, but they would be disruptive in terms of policyholder benefits and include unique features such as real-time information availability.
Pakistan has lately encouraged the development of Shariah-compliant financial institutions in the country.
In April, the SECP approved amendments to the Securities Brokers (Licensing and Operations) Regulations, 2016 and issued license to ZLK Islamic Financial Services (Private) Limited as the first Shariah-compliant brokerage house in Pakistan.
Pakistan licenses Salaam Family Takaful as ‘first ever’ digital only Islamic life insurance provider
https://arab.news/2gj54
Pakistan licenses Salaam Family Takaful as ‘first ever’ digital only Islamic life insurance provider
- Pakistan has lately encouraged the development of Shariah-compliant financial institutions in the country
- In April, Islamabad licensed ZLK Islamic Financial Services Limited as first Shariah-compliant brokerage house
73% of foreign firms in Pakistan see it as a viable investment destination — survey
- OICCI survey highlights improved investor optimism since 2023, when it stood at 61%
- Regulatory unpredictability, high costs continue to keep foreign investors cautious
ISLAMABAD: Seventy-three percent of overseas investors operating in Pakistan now recommend the country as a viable destination for direct investment, up from 61% in 2023, according to a survey of more than 200 multinational companies released on Friday, signaling a measurable improvement in investor sentiment following Pakistan’s 2022–23 foreign exchange crisis.
The 2025 Perception and Investment Survey, conducted by the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI), which represents multinational firms in the country, found that improving macroeconomic indicators and recent policy reforms have begun to restore confidence, though investors remain cautious about regulatory unpredictability and rising business costs.
“The 2025 Perception and Investment Survey ... provides a cautiously optimistic snapshot of investor sentiment in
Pakistan,” the report said, noting that “improvements in macroeconomic indicators and recent policy reform initiatives have begun to rebuild confidence among foreign investors.”
The survey pointed to relative exchange-rate stability after a period of steep rupee depreciation, alongside credit rating upgrades by international agencies.
“73% of OICCI members now recommend Pakistan as a viable FDI destination, compared to 61 percent two years earlier,” it added.
Despite the improved macro picture, the survey warned that structural and regulatory challenges continue to weigh on investment decisions.
“The broader regulatory landscape remains complex and unpredictable,” it said, highlighting delays in tax refunds, inconsistent enforcement and weak coordination between federal and provincial authorities.
Foreign direct investment, while showing some positive movement, “remains concentrated in cautious brackets,” with most investors opting for modest commitments despite a decline in the proportion of firms planning no future investment.
Rising costs were a major concern, with nearly all respondents reporting increases in energy prices, wages and raw material costs. Political instability, sudden regulatory changes and an unclear fiscal roadmap were listed among the top investor apprehensions.
The survey warned that despite the positive outlook among multinationals operating in Pakistan, international perception of the country has improved only marginally, adding that “negative global coverage continues to influence investment decisions significantly,” and underscoring the need for a more proactive international communication strategy.
