The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has invited financial sector stakeholders, fintech companies, researchers and industry professionals to participate in a discussion on the Draft Open Banking Regulations 2026, providing an opportunity to review the proposed regulatory framework and share feedback on its provisions. The initiative aims to engage relevant participants in understanding the draft regulations, discussing their potential implications for the banking and financial technology sectors, and contributing recommendations before the consultation process concludes. The central bank has encouraged organisations and professionals working across the financial ecosystem to take part in the discussion and provide their perspectives on the proposed framework.
The discussion will feature members of the SBP team involved in preparing the draft regulations, allowing participants to hear directly from the officials responsible for developing the proposed framework. The session will cover key provisions of the Draft Open Banking Regulations 2026 and provide insights into the regulatory approach being considered by the central bank. Participants will have the opportunity to understand the proposed requirements, raise questions and discuss relevant aspects of the framework with the SBP team. An interactive question-and-answer session will also form part of the engagement, enabling stakeholders to seek clarification and communicate their observations regarding the draft.
Industry participation is expected from a broad range of organisations and professionals, including banks, financial institutions, fintech companies, researchers and practitioners. These stakeholders have been encouraged to participate in the consultation and share their feedback on the proposed regulations. Their involvement will provide an opportunity to highlight industry requirements, operational considerations and potential challenges associated with the development and implementation of an open banking framework in Pakistan. The consultation also provides a platform for financial technology companies and traditional banking institutions to contribute their perspectives on the regulatory arrangements needed to support the evolving digital financial services landscape.
Open banking is an emerging area of financial services regulation that generally involves structured mechanisms for sharing customer-permitted financial information between authorised institutions and service providers through secure interfaces. Regulatory frameworks in this area can influence how banks, fintech companies and other financial service providers develop digital products, facilitate data access and introduce interconnected financial services. For Pakistan’s banking and fintech sectors, the proposed regulations represent an important area of discussion as digital financial services continue to expand and financial institutions explore new approaches to technology-driven service delivery.
The SBP has set November 30, 2026, as the deadline for receiving comments on the Draft Open Banking Regulations 2026. Interested stakeholders can submit their feedback and recommendations directly to the central bank through the designated email address, psdpolicy@sbp.org.pk. The deadline provides financial institutions, fintech companies, researchers and other relevant participants with an opportunity to review the draft and communicate their suggestions for consideration during the consultation process.
Through this engagement, the State Bank of Pakistan is seeking input from participants across the financial services industry before proceeding with the proposed regulatory framework. Direct interaction with the team behind the draft and the opportunity to submit written recommendations are intended to facilitate a broader exchange of views on open banking in Pakistan. The consultation will allow stakeholders to raise relevant questions, identify areas requiring further clarification and contribute industry perspectives to the regulatory development process.
Follow the PakBanker Whatsapp Channel for updates across Pakistan’s banking ecosystem.