Capital markets serve as key avenue for attracting foreign inflows: finance minister

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar has said that strengthening of the capital market was critical for augmenting domestic resource mobilization to support the growing financing requirements of the country.

“Capital markets also serves as a key avenue for attracting foreign inflows,” the minister said this while chairing a meeting focusing on proposals and recommendations for capital market development on Saturday.

The meeting among others was attended by the secretary finance and chairman Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) and his team, and the chairman Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP).

The finance minister had formed a committee of key members of stock market to develop a roadmap for the future development of capital market and called on the SECP to submit a new strategic plan for the next few years.

Chairman PSX Richard Morin along other members of stock market gave the minister a presentation on the ‘Roadmap to Pakistan Capital Market Development’.

He highlighted PSX’s envisioned initiatives for capital market development including the spheres of policy formulation, capacity building, need for broadening investor base and measures to attract issuers, developing brokerage and asset management industries along with introduction of new products.

Richard also laid emphasis on need for improvements in the tax environment and effective debt capital market management.

There was discussion on how to improve SME (Small Medium Enterprises) access to capital markets. Reforms of all markets players including mutual fund industry were discussed. There was concern expressed about the lack of financial viability of the public pension fund system.

Morin said the PSX had a three-year strategic plan at hand, and when approved by the PSX Board of Directors, it would be shared with the ministry of finance and the SECP.

The SECP underscored their commitment towards development of a modern and efficient capital market based on fair and transparent regulatory framework which fosters strong culture of compliance and ensures investor protection and mitigation of systemic risks.

The SECP emphasised its aims for development of a vibrant capital market which serves capital formation and a competitive investment destination and where there is due focus on product development and investor protection.

International financial expert and consultant Haroon Sharif also presented views on capital market reforms and emphasized focus on strengthening governance and capacity development of SECP and development of primary market, and called for further evaluation of the role of development finance companies that have been set up as joint venture among Pakistan and few key member countries, among other areas.

Minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar in the end said that sustainable development was not possible without having an efficient and deeper domestic capital market that allows for tapping the required equity and debt.

She underscored need for the development of a comprehensive, well integrated and consolidated capital market agenda.

The minister called for strengthening the governance of the SECP, ensuring the ministry of finance capacities were developed for offering an effective interface and support for capital market development, establishment of an all inclusive institutional coordination mechanism among all key regulators and developing a shared vision and a common plan among all stakeholders and market participants of the industry.

She said both private sector and government should work together to realize this goal. She welcomed the proposals submitted by the participants and said these should be consolidated into a white paper for consideration of the new government.

Akhtar also gave instructions that until there was a regular mechanism in place, there should be a focal person in the Finance Division and nominated Additional Finance Secretary (Internal Finance) to liaise with different stakeholders on matters relating to capital market.

She called for further discussion on the subject in coming week to agree on forward looking reforms of capital market development.