Islamabad – April 18, 2025: In a strong move toward fostering public-private partnerships aimed at accelerating Pakistan’s economic digitisation, Mr. Akif Saeed, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), along with Commissioner Muzzaffar Ahmed Mirza, visited Jazz’s newly inaugurated headquarters on Thursday, April 17. The visit underlined a shared vision to enable financial inclusion, drive innovation, and formalise the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector as a key growth engine for the national economy.
The high-level engagement was hosted by Jazz, Pakistan’s leading digital operator and a key player in the fintech and telecommunications landscape. From Jazz and its parent company VEON Group, senior leadership in attendance included Aamir Ibrahim, CEO Jazz; Farrukh Khan, CFO Jazz; Saima Kamila Khan, Chief Legal Officer, and Burak Özer, Group Chief Financial Officer at VEON.
The meeting centered around the importance of collaboration between the regulator and digital innovators to build a future-ready, transparent, and inclusive economic framework. Chairman SECP praised Jazz for its impactful contributions to Pakistan’s digital transformation, particularly through its digital financial services platforms that have significantly advanced financial inclusion and digital access for underserved communities.
Speaking at the occasion, Aamir Ibrahim, CEO Jazz, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting the country’s digital and economic evolution. “We’re honoured to welcome SECP’s leadership and align on our shared vision of a more inclusive, transparent, and digital Pakistan. Together, we can empower entrepreneurs, enable financial access, and fuel economic resilience through innovation,” he remarked.
The SECP’s visit comes at a time when Pakistan’s economic strategy is increasingly focused on leveraging digital technologies to enhance transparency, streamline regulatory processes, and support the formalisation of the SME sector — which comprises a significant portion of the country’s economic fabric.
Jazz has been at the forefront of these efforts through its diverse portfolio of digital products, including JazzCash, which now serves millions of users across the country with services such as mobile wallets, microloans, and payment gateways. These initiatives align closely with SECP’s broader objective of bringing informal sectors into the regulatory fold and creating more resilient financial ecosystems.
Chairman Akif Saeed noted the importance of building enabling regulatory frameworks that not only support innovation but also safeguard users and maintain system integrity. “Our collaboration with key private sector stakeholders like Jazz is essential for developing smart regulations that balance growth with oversight,” he stated.
The visit marked a strategic milestone in aligning policy-level initiatives with market-driven innovation. Both SECP and Jazz expressed a shared interest in establishing working groups and feedback mechanisms to co-create digital policies that empower entrepreneurs, especially within the SME segment.
The discussions also touched on regulatory sandboxes, data transparency, cybersecurity, and the evolving role of fintechs in delivering inclusive economic growth.
As Pakistan progresses toward becoming a digitally empowered economy, partnerships between forward-looking regulators and technology leaders like Jazz will play a pivotal role in shaping a future where inclusive financial systems are not just aspirational, but actionable.