Pakistan grants first digital-only license to non-life insurer in regulatory first

Secu­ri­­ties and Exchange Com­mis­­sion of Pakistan. (Reuters/File)
Short Url
Updated 22 July 2025
Follow

Pakistan grants first digital-only license to non-life insurer in regulatory first

  • The license will enable Digi Insurance to sell general products like motor, health and travel coverage
  • The approval marks a milestone for an insurance industry aiming to expand inclusion, accessibility

KARACHI: Pakistan’s top financial regulator has issued the country’s first-ever digital-only license to a non-life insurer, allowing Karachi-based Digi Insurance Limited to operate entirely without a physical branch network, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) said on Tuesday.

The license enables Digi Insurance to sell general insurance products — such as motor, health and travel coverage — through a fully digital platform, with no in-person interaction or branch infrastructure required.

The approval marks a regulatory milestone for Pakistan’s insurance industry as it seeks to modernize and improve accessibility.

“This development reflects SECP’s broader objective of enabling financial inclusion through responsible innovation and encouraging customer-centric, tech-enabled insurance solutions,” the commission said in a statement.

The SECP said the approval was granted under a revised regulatory framework aimed at supporting new business models and encouraging the use of technology in insurance distribution, policy issuance and claims processing.

The Pakistani financial regulator said it expects the move to promote competition, expand access to underserved markets and encourage further innovation across the sector.

It also maintained digital models offer a scalable, cost-effective alternative that could help close Pakistan’s insurance gap.
 


Pakistan bulk cargo terminal signs deal to ship copper-gold output from Reko Diq

Updated 6 sec ago
Follow

Pakistan bulk cargo terminal signs deal to ship copper-gold output from Reko Diq

  • Pakistan International Bulk Terminal says the deal positions it as the primary logistics gateway for Reko Diq’s mineral output
  • A top Barrick Mining official says the agreement marks a ‘step forward,’ with exports from the project expected to begin in 2028

ISLAMABAD: A bulk cargo terminal operating at Pakistan’s Port Qasim has signed an agreement to handle and export copper-gold commodities from Reko Diq, including minerals, metals and other natural earth resources, in a move expected to support multibillion-dollar mineral exports from the country, the company said on Monday.

The terminal operator, Pakistan International Bulk Terminal Limited (PIBT), said the agreement positions it as the primary export gateway for Reko Diq’s mineral output and strengthens Pakistan’s ambitions to expand its footprint in global commodity markets.

The deal covers logistics, storage and exports for output from the Reko Diq copper-gold project in southwestern Balochistan province, one of the world’s largest undeveloped mineral deposits, with shipments expected to begin from 2028.

“This agreement is a historic milestone for PIBT and Pakistan, enabling exports from one of the world’s most significant mining projects and serving as a cornerstone for national economic growth,” Sharique Azim Siddiqui, CEO of PIBT, said in a statement.

He expressed appreciation to the government, the Special Investment Facilitation Council, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Port Qasim Authority for their “pivotal role.”

Barrick Mining Corporation, which is developing Reko Diq, also welcomed the agreement.

“We’re delighted to have signed this important agreement with PIBT which marks another step forward in ensuring that Reko Diq delivers lasting value to all our stakeholders but particularly the people of Balochistan and Pakistan,” Mark Hill, the company’s top official, said.

PIBT is a fully mechanized multipurpose bulk terminal located at Port Qasim and was developed with a $305 million investment in partnership with the International Finance Corporation.

The terminal currently has an annual handling capacity of 12 million tons of imports and 4 million tons of exports, with further investment planned to upgrade its export systems, the company said.