ISLAMABAD: Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has extended license renewal date for insurance brokers in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.
The SECP issued Circular No. 12 on Monday to extend the date for license renewal for insurance business.
The SECP said that considering the gravity of the pandemic coronavirus (COVID-19) on public health and lockdown situation in the country, insurance brokers, insurance surveyors and authorized surveying officers are facing difficulties while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements related to renewal of license under the Insurance Ordinance, 2000.
The SECP said that in order to facilitate the insurance brokers, insurance surveyors and ASOs during the ongoing pandemic, the regulator issued following guidelines regarding renewal of licenses:
(i) Any insurance brokers/insurance surveyor/ASO whose license has expired or will expire during the period from March 15, 2020 to May 15, 2020 shall continue to carry on its business without renewal of its current license with the commission;
(ii) The above relaxation shall be effective for a period of two months i.e. it shall end on May 15. The respective insurance brokers, insurance surveyors, and ASOs shall be bound to file their applications prior to the deadline of May 15, 2020.
(iii) Upon receipt of the application, license shall be renewed effective from the date of expiry of the previous license.
(iv) Insurance brokers, insurance surveyors and ASOs facing difficulties to arrange documents, required under the Ordinance for renewal of license may avail the above mentioned relaxation.
(v) While surveyors/ASOs can file applications online through e-services, insurance brokers may send their applications to the commission via email until the expiry of the lockdown; and
(vi) All insurance companies/ general takaful operators shall continue to do business with insurance brokers /insurance surveyors/ASOs considering the grace period of two months for any license expired after March 15, 2020.
