NIFT introduces online procurement of digital signatures for e-filing at SECP

ISLAMABAD, June 2: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) in collaboration with National Institutionnel Facilitation Technologies (Pvt.) Ltd (NIFT) has launched the facility for electronic/online procurement of digital signature certificates e-filing at SECP.

After the implementation of the online procurement of digital signature certificates, the SECP has achieved end-to-end online service for all processes in eServices, which will go a long way in facilitating the general public. Now the stakeholders have the facility to submit online returns/documents 24/7, and are able to complete the whole process online, without the need to visit the SECP, NIFT or the bank.

For effective implementation of the eServices project as well as the security and authenticity of the underlying transactions, the modalities of the electronic filing environment have been developed in line with the requirements of the Electronic Transaction Ordinance, 2002. SECP joined forces with NIFT for the provision of the digital signature certificates to its users. Every promoter, subscriber and other officer of the company who needs to interact with the SECP electronically requires digital signature certificates from NIFT. Digital signature certificates from NIFT ensure the security of the system.

Earlier, in order to obtain digital signature certificates applicants were required to submit their applications to NIFT manually. Looking at the future needs and to truly make the system online, SECP coordinated with NIFT to make the facility of online submission of such applications for its users available. With the collaboration of NIFT, SECP has been able to achieve this milestone. This facility will result in huge facilitation of the stakeholders by speeding up processing times, besides providing a paperless environment in true sense. Last year, the SECP introduced the facility for online payment of fee through credit cards in its eServices regime, which put the SECP on a par with similar organizations/registries in developed nations.