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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Pakistan’s State Bank (SBP) listed the launch of its second Regulatory Sandbox cohort on October 2, 2026. An Associated Press of Pakistan (APP)-credited report says proposals are invited in three named areas—AI in Financial Services, Innovations in Payments, and Technology enabled Inward Remittances—plus NextGen Financial Services as an open theme. That report gives November 30, 2026 as the application deadline. Applicants should check SBP’s current portal for the authoritative form and submission instructions.
What SBP announced—and what applicants should verify
SBP’s official What’s New listing includes “Regulatory Sandbox-Second Cohort,” dated October 2, 2026. The linked release PDF was not retrievable for direct confirmation of the cohort details. The themes, deadline, and email-submission description below are therefore attributed to an APP-credited report, rather than presented as independently confirmed wording from SBP.
The reported deadline is November 30, 2026. Because application details can change and the primary release was unavailable, use SBP’s official listing to reach the current portal and verify the form, procedure, and submission method before applying. The report says applications are accepted by email, but it does not establish an address here; do not rely on an unverified address.
Which proposals are in scope?
The report says SBP will consider proposals within the announced themes:
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- AI in Financial Services
- Innovations in Payments
- Technology enabled Inward Remittances
- NextGen Financial Services, designated as the open theme
“Open theme” distinguishes NextGen Financial Services from the three specifically named areas; it does not mean that proposals on any subject are automatically eligible. The report says proposals must fit the announced themes.
What a regulatory sandbox does—and does not mean
A regulatory sandbox is a structured way to test a proposed financial service under a regulator’s oversight. Being considered for a cohort is not the same as receiving a full commercial licence, guaranteed approval, or blanket exemption from regulation. The available material does not establish the second cohort’s testing duration, any regulatory relief, or participant-specific conditions, so applicants should not assume these match an earlier cohort.
SBP’s indexed Draft Regulatory Sandbox Framework describes a cohort approach: participating entities enter together and receive the same testing period, with themes and deadlines announced by SBP. It also describes preliminary screening by the Innovation Hub and examples of proposals that may be excluded, including those that add no material value beyond solutions already deployed, lack clear testing objectives, come from insolvent applicants, or offer services prohibited by law. The PDF is labelled draft; treat it as background, not confirmation of the current binding terms.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the second cohort differs from the first
SBP’s January 6, 2026 announcement on first-cohort shortlisted applicants said six applicants had been shortlisted. That cohort covered technology-enabled inward remittances, open banking, and remote onboarding of merchants. SBP said those participants were to test in a controlled live environment for up to six months, subject to approval conditions.
The second cohort’s reported themes overlap with the first in inward remittances but also include AI, payment innovation, and an open NextGen Financial Services theme. The first cohort’s six-applicant count and testing period describe that earlier cycle only; they do not establish the second cohort’s participant count, duration, or conditions.
Quick Recap
Practical next steps for applicants
- Confirm the current notice: open SBP’s official What’s New page and locate the October 2, 2026 second-cohort listing.
- Get the current form and instructions: follow the official portal or guidelines linked from the notice. Check the exact required documents and submission channel there.
- Match the proposal to a theme: explain clearly how the service fits one of the three named themes or the NextGen Financial Services open theme.
- Verify the deadline and submit through the stated channel: November 30, 2026 is the date reported by APP; confirm it and any time-zone or receipt requirements on SBP’s portal before sending an application.
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