Mutual Funds managing Rs 500 billion funds

Staff Reporter

The Chairman Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Zafar Hijazi expressed his satisfaction that the mutual funds industry of the country is showing strong growth and successfully managing the public assets of more than Rs500 billion with a variety of investment vehicles, including equity funds, income funds, money market funds, government securities funds.

He was talking to a delegation of Mutual Funds Association of Pakistan (MUFAP) led by its Chairman Muhammad Shoaib and Senior Vice Chairman Shahid Ghaffar. The Chairman MUFAP gave a detailed presentation on the mutual funds industry in Pakistan highlighting the growth witnessed by the industry due to favorable investor sentiments and excellent performance record of mutual funds over the past years.

He informed that asset management industry is managing public assets of more than Rs.500 billion and manages variety of investment vehicles including equity funds, income funds, money market funds, government securities funds; with high ethical standards. He also pointed out the pressing issues faced by the industry including the taxation regime, among others.

The Chairman SECP said that the mutual funds industry of Pakistan has great potential for growth and the mutual funds association can play an important role for development and growth of the industry. He highlighted that core investment in mutual funds should largely be based on the retail investors and the industry should play its role to inculcate a culture of savings in the country. These investors can greatly benefit from the expert fund management services offered by asset management companies. He also advised the industry participants to focus on devising new products catering to the needs of the investors. He described the various measures taken by the SECP for facilitating the industry participants and assured that the issues faced by the industry would be addressed.