Key Points:
- Finance Minister chairs inaugural meeting of CMDC to advance capital market reforms.
- Focus on retail and institutional investor participation, diversified investment products.
- Government emphasises debt and equity market growth, cross-border listings.
- Working groups to establish KPIs and action plans; quarterly progress reports.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has launched the Capital Market Development Council (CMDC) to strengthen and expand the country’s capital markets, with a focus on improving investor participation.
The Council would also facilitate funding for businesses, and would support economic growth, said Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb. Chairing the council’s inaugural meeting on Thursday, Aurangzeb said the government is committed to building a modern, integrated, and investor-friendly capital market ecosystem.
“Developing a vibrant and well-functioning capital market is a key national priority, essential for improving access to finance, promoting savings, deepening market activity, and strengthening Pakistan’s long-term economic resilience,” he added.
Key areas of the Council’s focus included enhancing retail and institutional investor participation, developing diversified investment products, facilitating intermediaries like banks and brokers, and creating incentives for issuers. Discussions also covered cross-border integration, regulatory modernisation, and measures to encourage capital raising through debt and equity markets.
The council will establish dedicated working groups to prepare key performance indicators and action plans within the next two weeks, with quarterly progress reports to ensure effective implementation. The initiative aims to create a dynamic, high-liquidity market capable of channelling savings into productive investment and supporting Pakistan’s broader economic growth.
