SECP targets 2.5m investors in Pakistan

July 16, 2026 (MLN): A developed capital market is indispensable for sustainable economic growth, veteran businessman Arif Habib said while addressing the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan's (SECP) Talk Series, where he shared insights from more than five decades of experience in Pakistan's capital markets.

SECP Chairman Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu welcomed Arif Habib and said the regulator aims to increase the number of investors in Pakistan to 2.5 million.

He said the process of opening investment accounts is being further simplified, while rapid progress is being made on implementing the T+1 settlement system.

He said digital reforms are being introduced to make investing easier and more secure, adding that the objective is to build a capital market ecosystem that is transparent, accessible and aligned with international standards.

Dr. Sidhu said attracting young people and new investors to the capital market remains one of SECP's key priorities.

He added that the SECP Talk Series aims to institutionalize knowledge-sharing by connecting regulators with experienced market practitioners and providing opportunities to learn from leading business figures.

Showing on the evolution of Pakistan's capital markets, Arif Habib said the market has transformed from open-outcry trading floors to a technology-driven marketplace, but the principles of successful investing remain discipline, patience and long-term thinking.

He noted that the Pakistan Stock Exchange has delivered an average annual return of around 22% over the past 22 years and a 14% dollar-denominated return over the last five years.

He said market volatility is temporary, while long-term investment in fundamentally strong companies creates sustainable wealth.

Arif Habib also highlighted the role of capital markets in mobilizing savings, financing businesses, strengthening corporate governance and generating employment across brokerage, asset management, investment banking, research, fintech and advisory services.

He emphasized the need to improve financial literacy, particularly among young Pakistanis, to broaden participation in formal capital markets.

The session was attended by SECP commissioners, representatives of market institutions, academia and business leaders, and concluded with a question-and-answer session followed by the presentation of a commemorative shield to Arif Habib.

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