ISLAMABAD
The Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) organised a seminar at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry to create awareness in business community about its investors education web portal “JamaPunji”.
The event was attended by a large number of traders and industrialists The seminar focused on increasing financial literacy and investor awareness about capital markets and its related products along with issues related to company incorporation.
Speaking at the occasion, Murtaza Abbas, SECP Deputy Director, and Deputy Registrar Akram Qureshi highlighted the main features of Jamapunji web portal for the education of investors. They said due to lack of proper knowledge, many investors have suffered huge losses in capital markets while with proper knowledge and awareness, they could make profitable investments in stock market.
They stressed that investors should always make rational decisions and avoid making investment merely on speculations which carried high risks.
They said considering the significance of fundamental knowledge and understanding of the financial market, SECP initiated investor education program, JamaPunji, because lack of financial literacy and capability made the general public vulnerable to frauds in the capital market.
They said JamaPunji web portal was a single point learning resource for the existing and potential users of financial products offered in the capital market including mutual funds, pension funds, insurance, and company registration. They said investors should take advantage of this facility while considering investment in capital markets as it will reduce their vulnerability and save them from losses. He said SMEs have huge potential to generate funds from capital markets for growth and expansion.
In his welcome address, Atif Ikram Sheikh, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry appreciated the role of SECP for promoting good governance in corporate sector. He said launching of SME segments in capital markets by SECP was highly positive development as it will enable them to get listed on stock exchanges and obtain capital for new projects and expanding existing business ventures.
He said SECP has launched many good programs for investors and it should launch comprehensive outreach programs so that maximum investors could get benefit from them for making sound investments in capital markets.
Meanwhile, In line with its efforts to strengthen the capital market and as part of subsidiary legislation under the Securities Act, 2015 (the “Act”), the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has issued draft Central Depositories (Licensing and Operations) Regulations, 2015.