SECP commissioner: Call to educate public about capital markets

Initiative launched to provide knowledge on finance and investments.


Our Correspondent March 28, 2014
Referring to the prevailing reluctance on part of the general public when it comes to equity investments, Arif said that the media can play a critical role in dispelling such misconceptions. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan’s (SECP) Insurance Commissioner Mohammed Asif Arif said on Friday  that the apex regulator, in addition to its role of a watchdog, is now expected to play its part in developing a market and enhancing its efficiency.

Addressing the launching ceremony of the Institute of Capital Market’s (ICM) Financial Literacy Initiative (FLI), Arif said there was a dire need to spread awareness about capital markets among the general public in order to facilitate long-term financing for mega projects in the energy sector.



“We’re too dependent on the banking sector but it provides only short and medium-term financing,” said Arif. “Long-term financing, which comes through the capital markets, is presently limited to only 200,000 investors,” said Arif, while emphasising the role of the ICM in popularising equity investments in the country.

Referring to the prevailing reluctance on part of the general public when it comes to equity investments, Arif said that the media can play a critical role in dispelling such misconceptions.

The objective of the ICM’s FLI is to provide participants with essential knowledge in the finance and investment fields, including concepts covered in the ICM programmes by using recent and relevant examples.

The ICM aims to train journalists from top-tier media organisations, which will enable the latter to report on financial and business issues in a better and more informed manner.

The ICM has been established to promote certification programmes to enhance
technical and ethical standards of capital market professionals of Pakistan. It has launched, and is currently conducting, a total of six certification examinations for stock brokers, mutual fund distributors, financial derivative traders, financial advisers and other market participants.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29th, 2014.

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