Latest news with #AkifSaeed
Business Recorder
26-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Mutual funds offer investment solutions: SECP chief
KARACHI: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) conducted Mutual Fund Focus Group Sessions 2025. The closed-door session brought together a diverse range of stakeholders from across Pakistan's capital markets for in-depth discussions on critical issues shaping the mutual fund industry. According to the spokesperson, the event was structured into thematic segments and facilitated by expert-led deliberations on mutual fund reforms, product innovation, digital transformation, investor inclusion, governance frameworks and market development, addressing both domestic challenges and global best practices. During his opening remarks, SECP Chairman Akif Saeed underscored the strategic importance of mutual funds in broadening access to formal investment opportunities, particularly for retail investors. He stated that mutual funds have the potential to democratize investing by offering professionally managed, transparent, and regulated options to a wider investor base. He further emphasized that the SECP remains fully committed to strengthening the mutual fund ecosystem by fostering innovation, simplifying accessibility, and enhancing regulatory oversight to ensure long-term and inclusive growth of financial sector. The sessions featured robust discussions on emerging global trends, including the rise of ESG-focused, thematic, and infrastructure-linked funds, as well as the expanding market for Shariah-compliant investment products. A key focus was also placed on women's financial inclusion, with participants exploring how mutual funds can serve as an effective tool to enhance female participation in the economy. Discussion also centered on digital transformation and governance, with stakeholders examining the role of technologies such as Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) and Centralized Gateway Portals (CGPs) in improving investor onboarding and operational efficiency. Additionally, discussions emphasized the need for strong governance frameworks, transparent disclosure practices, and robust risk management protocols to bolster investor confidence and safeguard market integrity. SECP Commissioner Abdul Rehman Warraich highlighted the significance of stakeholder input in shaping future regulatory policies. He thanks the stakeholders for the candid and constructive engagement from industry partners and hoped that the insights gathered will play a crucial role in informing upcoming reforms by SECP. He emphasized that a transparent, well-regulated, and inclusive mutual fund industry is vital for deepening Pakistan's capital markets and advancing financial inclusion. The SECP, as a sole regulator of capital markets in the country, extended its appreciation to the participants for their valuable contributions and reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing collaboration with industry stakeholders. The Mutual Fund Focus Group Sessions 2025 will also continue on Tuesday with further discussions on the same thematic areas involving a fresh group of experts and market participants. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
01-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
‘SECP committed to building transparent capital market'
ISLAMABAD: Chairman Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Akif Saeed Wednesday reaffirmed the Commission's commitment to building a transparent and efficient capital market, streamlining the bond issuance process to reduce both time and cost. The SECP and Infra Zamin, in collaboration with UK International Development and the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), hosted a seminar focused on 'Green Financing via Debt Capital Markets.' The Chairman of the SECP also urged the private sector to adopt enhanced disclosure standards for greater transparency and called for credit enhancements to boost investor confidence and broaden the investor base. The seminar explored how debt capital markets can serve as a powerful tool for financing environmentally sustainable projects, facilitating the transition to a low-carbon economy, and creating climate resilience. Discussions centred on the role of credit enhancement as a means to de-risk bonds, making them an attractive investment avenue for long-term liquidity pools, such as asset managers and insurance companies. The role of the SECP in facilitating innovation and providing pathways to encourage private sector participation in green financing was acknowledged. The speakers highlighted the substantial societal benefits associated with green financing, underlining its potential to drive sustainable development and climate resilience. They emphasized the vital roles that different stakeholders—including governments, financial institutions, regulatory bodies, and development partners—must play in fostering an enabling environment for the growth and issuance of green bonds. A key focus of the discussion was the role of credit enhancement mechanisms in mitigating risks for investors, thereby making green investments more attractive and viable. Representatives from PIDG, Guarant Co, and the British Council shared compelling success stories from emerging economies, illustrating how innovative credit enhancement tools have been instrumental in mobilizing large-scale financing for green infrastructure and environmentally sustainable projects. These examples showcased how de-risking strategies can bridge investment gaps and accelerate the flow of capital toward climate-aligned initiatives. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
23-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Revitalised Appellate Bench Registry: SECP enhances quasi-judicial operations
ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has enhanced its quasi-judicial operations through a revitalised and more efficient Appellate Bench Registry, reflecting from new appellate bench orders of the SECP. Details issued by the SECP on Tuesday revealed that recognising the critical role of the Appellate Bench as the Commission's final forum for adjudication, Chairman Akif Saeed placed strategic emphasis on institutional reform and judicial efficacy. This focus resulted in the strengthening of the Registry by deploying a dedicated and highly skilled team, along with streamlined internal processes designed to enhance operational performance. These institutional enhancements facilitated the accelerated resolution of long-pending appeals and the successful clearance of a substantial backlog of cases spanning from 2012 to 2020. This progress was achieved while upholding highest standards of legal reasoning, procedural fairness, and reinforcing the jurisprudential depth of the Appellate Bench's decisions. The recent rulings have not only articulated authoritative and well-founded interpretations of key statutory provisions most notably under the Companies Act 2017 but are also poised to serve as essential reference sources for legal practitioners, market participants, and regulatory authorities, thereby playing a pivotal role in shaping and advancing corporate legal jurisprudence in Pakistan. Aligned with principles of transparency and accountability, all Appellate Bench orders are publicly accessible on the SECP official website. Company secretaries, legal professionals, compliance officers, and other corporate stakeholders are strongly encouraged to consult these decisions, which serve as essential reference material for the interpretation and application of corporate laws. Complementing these institutional reforms, the Appellate Bench Registry has also successfully developed a comprehensive digital repository of appellate decisions spanning the last two decades. This cutting-edge internal resource offers section-wise, statute-specific, and year-wise classification of all orders from 2006 to 2025. With intuitive one-click access, the repository significantly enhances the ability of internal stakeholders to retrieve and apply authoritative interpretations and rulings issued by successive benches. This initiative not only strengthens institutional memory but also promotes uniformity and consistency in legal reasoning across the Commission. Demonstrating its commitment to continuous improvement, the Registry has also undertaken a comprehensive review of the SECP (Appellate Bench Procedure) Rules, 2003. The proposed amendments, developed in consultation with internal stakeholders, are aimed to align the procedural rules with evolving legal frameworks and practical operational requirements. The revised draft is currently being finalised for submission to the competent forum for approval and notification, representing yet another step toward enhancing the transparency, efficiency, and legal robustness of the Commission's adjudicatory framework. This transformative phase of the Appellate Bench Registry reflects SECP's forward-looking regulatory philosophy focusing on judicial excellence, stakeholder confidence, and institutional credibility. Chairman Akif Saeed's visionary leadership has been instrumental in driving these initiatives, which collectively reinforce investor trust and underscore the Commission's unwavering commitment to transparency, legal integrity, and the prompt and equitable dispensation of justice across all forums. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
