Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and Pakistan Business Council reaffirm regulatory reform collaboration and set quarterly coordination meetings

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) met the Pakistan Business Council (PBC) to review recent reforms and discuss further initiatives aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s corporate sector and capital markets, and the two sides agreed to deepen cooperation through quarterly coordination meetings. SECP highlighted reforms to encourage corporatization, including fully digitalized company incorporation and reduced compliance requirements, which it linked to over 35,000 new company registrations in 2024–25. It also pointed to measures to improve transparency and efficiency, including the Financial Institutions Portal, Electronic Mortgage Register, and an Ultimate Beneficial Ownership registry. On capital markets, SECP referenced the listing of Government Debt Securities on the Pakistan Stock Exchange, a streamlined initial public offering regime, and new frameworks for online-only, Shariah-compliant, and agri-commodity futures brokers, alongside planned frameworks for digital non-bank financial companies, mutual funds, and a Digital Distribution Platform. The discussion also covered sustainability and inclusion initiatives, including the ESG Sustain Portal, promotion of reporting under the ESG Disclosure Guidelines, and work on gender-inclusive reforms such as the Family-Friendly Awards under the Prime Minister’s Directive; PBC members additionally urged that the proposed corporate social responsibility bill keep CSR voluntary and aligned with ESG principles. Both parties committed to continued dialogue on regulatory and market reforms, with quarterly coordination meetings as the primary mechanism for ongoing engagement.