SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu outlines vision for expanding Pakistan’s investor base

May 06, 2026 (MLN): SECP Chairman Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu has said that the success of the Capital Market Development Fund (CMDF) will not be measured by its size, but by tangible outcomes, with a key goal of expanding Pakistan’s investor base to 2.5 million over the next few years.

Speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad marking the signing of the CMDF agreement, he highlighted that Pakistan’s capital market offers strong potential for growth and greater inclusion.

He noted that nearly 47% of the country’s population is between the ages of 18 and 30, presenting a major opportunity to broaden participation in the financial system.

However, he pointed out that investor participation remains limited in regions such as Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, as well as among overseas Pakistanis.

To address these gaps, the SECP has introduced simplified onboarding processes, including streamlined KYC procedures and AML-compliant checks to make investment more accessible.

Dr. Sidhu further emphasized that Pakistan’s capital market has shown resilience and strong performance compared to regional peers despite global and domestic challenges. Over the past five years, the investor base has grown from around 240,000 to 520,000, yet this still represents only about 0.2% of the country’s total population.

The signing of the CMDF agreement was described as a defining step toward building a more inclusive and dynamic investment ecosystem in Pakistan, bringing together key stakeholders committed to expanding market participation and strengthening long-term financial development.

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