KARACHI - The Securities and Exchange Commission Pakistan in collaboration with key capital market stakeholders; the Karachi Stock Exchange, Lahore Stock Exchange, Islamabad Stock Exchange, Pakistan Mercantile exchange, Mutual Funds Association of Pakistan, Central Depository Company Pakistan and the National Clearing Company Pakistan, launched first of its kind nationwide investor education programme.
The launch ceremony was attended by participants from various sectors such as brokers, mutual funds, insurance as well as professional associations amongst others.
The programme aims to empower both existing and potential investors with knowledge to understand and evaluate different financial products as well as to expand outreach of financial services and products in Pakistan.
The programme will reach out to people in Pakistan through a dedicated investor website, seminars in all provinces of Pakistan, educational material in the form of guides and booklets and through the use of the media.
Three different segments of society have been targeted through the programme, university students; general investors that include professionals and white collar workers; and grey investors which include individuals close to the retirement age.
Courses for the seminars as well as educational material created will be done so in three different levels of basic, intermediate and advanced depending on the target audience as well as the city where the programme is being held.
All investor education activities undertaken will be branded under the name of the Institute of Capital Markets, with facilitation being provided across Pakistan by all stakeholders.
Gracing the occasion, the Chairman SECP Muhammad Ali stressed the importance of having financially educated individuals in order to create vibrant and inclusive capital markets. He further added that educating investors is only the start of the process, which further requires a supportive infrastructure, widespread product base and strong governance through certification of market participants.
Imtiaz Haider, Commissioner SECP emphasised the role investor education plays in protecting investors’ from fraud and misconduct.
As part of the programme, three seminars per week will take place in various geographical areas of Pakistan. The seminars will begin from next week.