Karachi, October 17, 2018 (PPI-OT): A group of National Defence University officers and faculty visited the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) where they were given briefing on Pakistan’s economy and the working of the PSX. They were also briefed upon the steps to improve the performance, the investor-base and the regulatory framework of the PSX. The NDU group was led by Brigadier (Retd) Muhammad Arshad whereas the PSX was represented by the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Sulaiman S. Mehdi, and a Board Member, Mr. Ahmed Chinoy.
The Chairman started the briefing with an outline of the immense potential Pakistan holds by virtue of its strategic location and the various sectors of the economy which are still at a nascent stage of development. He also reiterated the fact that our country is rich in natural resources. This places Pakistan as a prime destination for investment not only from a local investor perspective but also for the foreign investors.
The Chairman briefed the participants about how PSX evolved, the de-mutualisation process, and the transformation of PSX as the only national institution of the country primarily focused on capital formation. He talked about the advantages of integration and the strategic partnership with the Chinese whereby several aspects such as technology, I.T. security, and investment have been a source of material advantage to PSX. He said that the Price to earnings ratios of PSX were very attractive compared to other regional markets and that over a period of 5 years PSX have yielded a compounded annual return of up to 120 %.
Mr. Mehdi further elaborated that currently there are about 250,000 retail investors at the Pakistan Stock Exchange. When co-related with the population number it comes to about .12% which compared to other countries in the region is very low. PSX is working on numerous initiatives for investor education and awareness to increase the investor base. Efforts are being made to introduce new products on the Exchange to cater to various segments of the population.
He also took this opportunity to share some of the plans that PSX has for the development of the Capital Market and which he foresees as an attractive avenue of investments for the local and foreign investors as well as the Pakistani diaspora. He spoke of the current government bringing with it a new hope for the Pakistanis. He was confident that under the able leadership of the present Finance Minister the PSX should be able to deliver to its fullest in the coming years.
For more information, contact:
Public Relations,
Pakistan Stock Exchange Limited (PSX)
Cell: +92-332-3289727
Tel: +92-21-111-001122
Tel: +92-21-32428954, 35274576
Fax: +92-21-32419146
Email: nadeem.khanani@psx.com.pk
Website: www.psx.com.pk