ISLAMABAD - The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan organised a two-day seminar for faculty members at COMSATS Institute of Information Technology under its initiative of educating current and potential investors.
Ms Khalida Habib, director Investor Education and International Relations Department at the SECP, explained SECP’s investor education initiative, which is focused on raising financial literacy and transforming Pakistani society from its current primarily consumption-based mindset into one that has established saving and to enable individuals to make informed investment decisions, what the SECP is committed towards doing through disseminating investor education.
Zulfiqar Ali, senior portfolio investment manager at the NBP Fullerton Asset Management Company, gave the audience a comprehensive, step-by-step guide about financial planning and its benefits. Moreover, he explained the difference between saving and investing, the risks and biases involved in investing. Zahid Latif Khan, chairman and non-executive director of Islamabad Stock Exchange (ISE) Towers Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Management Company Ltd, and chairman/CEO of Zahid Latif Khan Securities Pvt Ltd, made a highly informative presentation about capital markets. He explained how to invest in stocks and clarified the concept of risk associated with investing.
Salman Haider Sheikh, CEO of Investments at Army Welfare Trust, delineated the subjects of Mutual Funds & the Voluntary Pension Scheme (VPS).
Haider effectively explained the structure and types of mutual funds, along with the status of the industry in a global and Pakistani context. He ended with thoroughly explaining the VPS and engaging with the audience. Muhammad Irfan, manager, Agribusiness and Product Development at PMEX, provided an insightful account of commodities. The explained both the fundamentals and the complexities involved in commodity exchange, along with the role of PMEX. Ali Basharat, financial analyst at Pakistan Microfinance Network (PMN), presented an informed explanation of microfinance with his exceptional knowledge in the field. He explained innovations in the field and its key insights. Samina Khan, head of the Underwriting Department at Askari General Insurance Company, enlightened the audience with the principles and products of insurance, takaful (Islamic Insurance), and insurance’s economic benefits.
Muhammad Junaid Younas Ghori, joint director, Islamic Finance Department at the SECP, gave a lucid account of Islamic finance, and clarified several common misconceptions. Mian Ayyaz Afzal, CEO of Islamabad Stock Exchange (ISE) Towers Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Management Company, presented explanation of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and their benefits both from a global and Pakistani perspective. Muhammad Akram Qureshi, deputy registrar of companies at SECP, provided a comprehensive explanation of the processes, procedures, rules, and advantages associated with company incorporation. Dr Khaild Riaz, dean of COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, thanked the SECP for arranging the highly informative and educational seminar. He also expressed his interest in future collaboration with the SECP regarding such seminars.
