KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has invited applications for the inaugural cohort of its Regulatory Sandbox, a flagship initiative under Vision 2028 aimed at fast-tracking the country’s digital financial revolution.
The central bank said the first phase of the sandbox will focus on three priority areas:
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Technology-enabled solutions for inward remittances
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Open banking
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Remote on-boarding of merchants
These themes, according to SBP, are critical to expanding financial inclusion, enhancing efficiency, and aligning Pakistan’s financial sector with global digital trends.
The sandbox will provide fintechs, technology firms, and financial institutions a controlled testing environment to trial innovative products and operational models, striking a balance between innovation, consumer protection, and financial stability. Insights gathered during the process will also help SBP refine regulatory frameworks in line with evolving technologies.
Encouraging startups and institutions to seize the opportunity, the SBP emphasized that the initiative would play a key role in strengthening Pakistan’s fintech ecosystem and accelerating its shift toward a more dynamic digital economy.
Applications for the first cohort will be accepted from August 25 to October 5, 2025, via email at regulatory.sandbox@sbp.org.pk. To guide prospective participants, SBP has also issued Regulatory Sandbox Guidelines, available on its website: https://www.sbp.org.pk/DFS/rsb.html.
