Shariah Compliant Investment in Pakistan 2024: A Path to Ethical Prosperity

Pakistan’s Islamic finance industry has experienced remarkable growth over the last decade as demand rises for shariah compliant financial products that align with religious beliefs while promoting financial inclusion. The country aims to become a global hub for ethical and equitable modes of finance rooted in Islamic commercial jurisprudence.

Islamic finance broadly refers to financial activity conforming to Islamic law (shariah), guided by core principles of:

“Risk sharing, prohibition of interest, promotion of ethical investments that support the welfare of society.”

Key Takeaways

• Shariah Compliant Investments: More than just adhering to religious norms, they represent a holistic approach to ethical investing, balancing financial gains with moral values.
• Corporate Finance and Sharia Compliance: Not only a moral choice but also a strategic one, leading to potentially higher firm value and sustainable growth.
• National Governance and Sharia Compliance: Strong national governance, coupled with Sharia compliance, creates an environment conducive to the growth and stability of Islamic finance in Pakistan.
• Islamic Corporate Governance: Goes beyond conventional norms, embedding ethical considerations and social responsibility at its core.
• Investment Opportunities in Pakistan: The Pakistan Stock Exchange offers a diverse range of Shariah compliant investment options, catering to the ethical and financial needs of Muslim investors.

 

2023 Projections	Value	Growth since 2013
Islamic Banking Assets	PKR ~4.5 trillion	26% CAGR
Takaful Contributions	PKR ~300 bln	15% CAGR

Source: Islamic Finance Country Report, MIFC

This booming industry bans investments considered unethical to offer an alternative framework for individuals and institutions based on religious conviction. As Pakistan looks to further regulate and expand Islamic finance products including banking, capital markets, insurance (takaful) and managed funds, global interest and investment in this emerging market continues rising. 

 

Statistics on the Size and Scope of Islamic Finance in Pakistan

Testament to strong regulatory support and rising participation, Pakistan’s Islamic finance industry has shown remarkable expansion.

• As per latest State Bank data, Islamic banking assets have crossed PKR 4 trillion milestone growing at 13-15% annually over 5 years.

• Islamic banking assets and deposits constitute 19.5% and 20.5% respectively, of the overall banking industry in Pakistan as of 2023. Showing the considerable market share and presence of shariah-compliant finance.

• Islamic banks are the largest contributors to the Islamic finance industry, accounting for 67% of total assets.

• The outstanding amount of Islamic bonds (sukuks) stand at 26% of total assets – second largest component.

• Around 20% of total assets within Pakistan’s financial sector fall under Islamic finance – indicating substantial presence.

• The sector comprises at least 22 dedicated Islamic financial institutions, offering a wide range of shariah-compliant products and services.

• These include Islamic equities, Islamic money market instruments, and managed investment solutions like mutual funds.

• Currently 29 Islamic mutual funds in Pakistan have assets over PKR 120 billion.

• Pakistan’s first shariah-compliant digital banking platform ‘SadaPay’ launched in 2021, indicating fintech innovation.

The rapid participation growth and statistics demonstrate the significant and growing presence of Islamic finance in meeting Pakistan’s economic and banking needs equitably.

 

Legal and Regulatory Framework for Islamic Finance

Pakistan has taken proactive steps over the past few decades to develop a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework conducive for Islamic finance industry growth.

Key aspects include:

• Dedicated Islamic Banking Laws – Specific legal provisions and statutes governing licensing, operational requirements and supervision of Islamic banks separately from conventional banks.

  • E.g. Islamic Banking Guidelines issued by State Bank in 2008.

• Islamic Financial Accounting Standards – Special accounting standards for Islamic financial institutions issued by Securities and Exchange Commission aligned to IFAS (Islamic Financial Accounting Standards) to improve transparency and standardization.

• Shariah Governance Regulations – Rules around structure, appointment, reporting and oversight of Shariah advisory boards in Islamic banks and financial institutions.

  • Ensures proper guidance and governance regarding shariah compliance.

• Tax Neutrality Framework – Regulatory amendments removing tax disadvantages for certain shariah-compliant modes of financing and promoting level playing field.

• Legal Judgements – Landmark rulings like Federal Shariat Court’s decision to eliminate riba, Supreme Court judgements banning certain un-Islamic transactions have driven adoption.

The improved structural and legal clarity has facilitated standardization of Islamic financial practices and provided confidence to market participants. Steps taken have been lauded globally and set a template for other countries to emulate.

However some gaps around shortage of legal experts in Islamic commercial law remain as growth accelerates.

 

Government Initiatives to Promote Islamic Finance

Pakistan’s regulators and policy makers have played an active role in promoting the Islamic finance industry’s development in the country through targeted initiatives:

Financial Sector Reforms

• Gradual Islamization of banking system through directives for conventional banks to open shariah-compliant windows.

• Roadmap for increasing Islamic banking share of total assets to 15% by 2023.

Legal & Regulatory Upgrades

• Tax incentives for Islamic finance products at par with conventional ones.

• Improved legal clarity on Islamic instruments like ijara (lease) and diminishing musharaka.

• Shariah governance frameworks for Islamic financial institutions.

Infrastructure Building

• Launch of dedicated Islamic liquidity management tools by the central bank.

• Platforms for screening shariah-compliant securities.

• Computerized auditing systems to monitor Islamic transactions separately.

Raising International Profile

• Getting Islamic Finance Services Board (IFSB) membership.

• Partnerships with multilateral agencies like World Bank, IDB to develop Islamic finance ecosystem.

• Participating and hosting major global Islamic finance conferences.

While these government-led initiatives have created an enabling environment, focus is still required on awareness, skill development, new product innovation and equitable access to sustain momentum.

 

Strengths and Opportunities for Further Growth

Pakistan’s Islamic finance industry is well positioned for strong continued expansion owing to some inherent strengths and promising opportunities:

 

Strengths	Opportunities
Increased Religion-driven Demand	Rising Islamic ethos and desire for banking aligned to faith driving consumer preferences for shariah-compliant services.
Untapped Market Potential	Large unbanked Muslim populations present opportunity for financial inclusion. Islamic microfinance estimated to serve over 1 million additional low-income households.
Global Islamic Finance Growth	Pakistan well placed to benefit as one of leading Muslim majority countries at forefront of developing Islamic finance regulatory ecosystem.
Ethical Investor Interest	Values-based millennial investors and even non-Muslim investors attracted to sustainable, ethical aspects of Islamic finance.
Fintech Innovations	Younger Islamic fintech firms best leveraging technology to offer innovative shariah-compliant solutions for digitally savvy consumers.
Inherent Asset-backing	Islamic finance’s asset-backed nature can promote greater financial stability during economic crises relative to interest-based speculation.

Realizing this promise hinges on enhancing regulatory capacity, ensuring consumer protection safeguards and risk management in Islamic banks while standardizing global integration frameworks.

 

Challenges Faced by Pakistan’s Islamic Finance Industry

Despite the rapid growth and strengths, Pakistan’s Islamic finance industry also faces some pressing challenges that need addressing:

Gaps in Product Offerings

• Shortage of shariah-compliant fund management products and capital market instruments inhibits investors.

• Lack of benchmark sovereign sukuk (Islamic bonds) issuances to set pricing standard for corporates looking to raise finance.

Underdeveloped Regulations

• Ambiguities around legal enforceability of some Islamic finance contracts in courts.

• Gaps in consumer protection frameworks relative to conventional finance.

Human Capital Shortages

• Acute shortage of trained experts well-versed in Islamic commercial jurisprudence to structure compliant deals.

• Lack of global integration platforms and channels for Pakistan’s Islamic banking sector.

Low Financial Literacy

• Lack of understanding of Islamic banking principles among masses inhibits participation and risk awareness.

Standardization Issues

• Variances in Shariah interpretation across institutions and scholars impeding consensus.
• Need greater coordination between Islamic banking regulators across provinces.

Targeted capacity building and infrastructure development focus in these areas crucial to sustain the industry’s double digit growth trajectory.

 

Recommendations to Support Islamic Finance Growth

For Pakistan’s Islamic finance industry to continue its impressive growth and work towards achieving its envisioned 15% market share, concerted steps are required across domains:

Industry Level

• Expand product variety beyond financing to wealth management, fund investments and takaful (insurance) for greater inclusivity.

• Increase number and expertise levels of dedicated Islamic banking staff across levels.

• Invest in fintech capabilities and shariah knowledge management systems to enhanceProcesses.

Policy Level

• Introduce legislative amendments closing gaps around enforceability of contracts.

• Design targeted incentives promoting growth of non-banking segments like Islamic capital markets and private equity.

• Increase international collaboration to adopt best practices and integration channels.

Regulatory Level

• Mandate adoption of sound governance frameworks including Shariah compliance, risk management and capital adequacy standards across Islamic financial institutions.

• Enhance capacity of regulators to provide effective oversight as sector grows rapidly.

• Facilitate infrastructure ecosystem around Islamic banking services to improve access countrywide.

Societal Level

• Launch financial literacy and awareness campaigns on basic Islamic finance concepts targeting grassroots.

• Promote academic and professional training programs to address skill gaps in Shariah experts.

With coordinated action across these four domains, Pakistan can maximize its gain from the expanding global Islamic Finance sector.

 

Islamic Investments in Pakistan 2024

Shariah-compliant investments in Pakistan offer a variety of options for those looking to invest in accordance with Islamic principles. Here are some of the main categories and options available:

Shariah-Compliant Mutual Funds: In Pakistan, various asset management companies offer Shariah-compliant mutual funds. These funds are designed to invest in alignment with Islamic principles. They encompass a range of categories such as income funds, equity funds, savings plans, money market funds, asset allocation funds, balanced funds, fund of funds, and Shariah-compliant versions of these categories. The minimum investment amounts can vary, and these funds can cater to different risk profiles, from low to high risk​​.

Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) Listings: The PSX lists a variety of Shariah-compliant investment options. This includes Shariah-compliant shares, Sukuk (Islamic bonds), Islamic Exchange Traded Funds (Islamic ETFs), and Islamic Real Estate Investment Trusts (Islamic REITs). Notably, the KMI 30 Index tracks the 30 most liquid Shariah-compliant companies listed at PSX, serving as a valuable benchmark for investors​​​​.

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs): The Pakistan Stock Exchange offers the Meezan Pakistan ETF (MZNPETF), which is the first Shariah-compliant ETF listed on the exchange. This ETF provides an opportunity for investors to invest in a diversified portfolio of Shariah-compliant stocks​​.

Sukuks and Modarabas: PSX also offers Sukuks, which are Shariah-compliant debt securities, as well as Modarabas, a type of Islamic financial instrument. These are suitable for investors seeking to adhere to Islamic finance principles​​.

NBP Islamic Savings Fund: This is an open-ended Shariah-compliant income fund, offering the opportunity to earn halal profits over idle cash savings. It features attractive profits compared to other saving avenues and allows for withdrawals without penalty or profit reduction​​.

Investment for Non-Resident Pakistanis (NRPs): NRPs can invest in Shariah-compliant shares listed on the PSX by opening an account in the Central Depository Company (CDC) through their PKR – Roshan Digital Account​​.

Shariah Compliant Mutual Funds

Shariah compliant mutual funds in Pakistan represent a harmonious fusion of ethical investment and financial returns. This section introduces these funds, discussing their structure, benefits, and the unique challenges they present to investors, and how they form a crucial part of Shariah Compliant Funds.

Asset Management and Shariah Compliance

In the realm of Shariah compliant investments, effective asset management is pivotal. Asset managers in Pakistan are tasked with the crucial role of aligning investments with Islamic principles. They meticulously screen investments, ensuring compliance with Shariah, a process detailed in our comprehensive guide on Islamic Finance and Banking. This involves avoiding investments in non-permissible sectors and ensuring that financial dealings are free from interest (riba).

Screening and Purification Processes

Maintaining the integrity of Shariah compliant investments requires rigorous screening and purification. Screening ensures investments align with Islamic principles, while purification involves cleansing non-halal income by donating it to charity. This process is vital for investors who seek guidance from Islamic Finance Advisors, ensuring their investments are both profitable and ethically sound.

Final Thoughts 

Pakistan’s Islamic finance industry has undergone tremendous growth over the past decade, with Islamic banking assets now accounting for close to 20% of total banking system assets. The supportive regulatory ecosystem has enabled this exponential expansion.

However, realizing the true potential requires addressing existing gaps around product development, consumer awareness, capacity building and infrastructure upgrades. The State Bank’s gradual approach to increase Islamic banking share coupled with global interest in shariah-compliant modes of ethical, sustainable finance provide grounds for optimism.

If challenges around regulation and religious interpretation standardization are prudently managed, Islamic finance can enhance financial inclusion, stability and values-alignment for the country’s majority Muslim population while attracting global capital seeking ethical returns.

With Islamic finance positioned as central to the government’s vision for an equitable economic growth model rooted in Islamic ideals of risk-sharing and finance that serves societal interests, Pakistan Islamic capital markets offer tremendous promise in the coming decade for investors and issuers alike. They have the potential to emerge among the main hubs globally for shariah-compliant financial services – the possibilities of which this article has covered comprehensively .

 

Join the Ethical Investment Movement

We invite you to be a part of this ethical investment movement. Whether you are a seasoned investor or new to the world of finance, exploring Shariah compliant investment options in Pakistan offers a unique blend of ethical integrity and financial opportunity. Join us at Crypto Ummah, where we provide access to a wealth of resources and guidance on Halal Crypto Staking and Shariah Compliant Cryptocurrency, helping you make informed investment decisions aligned with your values.