KARACHI, June 3: The Central Depository Company (CDC), in collaboration with the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), concluded the eighth successful road show in Gujranwala.

The event was aimed at educating potential investors about the working of the capital market and risks and benefits associated with it.

Among a few of its objectives were to remove common misconception about capital market investments and to provide a forum to fund managers, brokerage houses and financial institutions to reach investors in distant cities of Pakistan.

The presentations also provided an insight on how to keep one’s interest safe and risk-free by taking correct decisions through proper guidance in bearish market conditions.

Keeping in view the current scenario of stock markets in the country, this road show was well appreciated by the audience, as it provided them an ideal opportunity to interact with capital market experts and regulators.

Presenting before an eager gathering of retail investors from Gujranwala and the adjoining areas, CDC’s CEO Mohammad Hanif stated that the electronic process introduced by CDC had rid the market of time-consuming procedures for transfer of ownership, pledging and credit of corporate benefits.

KSE’s DGM (Operations) Abbas Mirza briefed the audience on the working of the stock exchange and its current and past performances.

He also informed them on the future outlook on the stock market situation in the country and about future plans of the KSE.

SECP’s Joint Director Musarrat Jabeen remarked that the SECP aims to achieve maximum dissemination and disclosure of information to all investors and this initiative of educating investors is giving strength to the capital market, aimed at achieving an efficient and well-informed market.

AKD Securities Deputy CEO Farid Alam gave a detailed presentation on the basics of the country’s stock exchanges and how one can trade on them.

He also elaborated on the various types of mutual funds available in the country and the opportunities they offer for the common investor.

CDC Chairman Mohammad Bashir Janmohammed stated that Pakistani stock markets offer an average of 16 per cent return, which is one of the best deals available in the region.

Furthermore, he reiterated CDC’s initiatives to spread awareness to its current and potential clients by conducting local road shows.

Accepting the suggestion made by the CDC chairman, Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Riaz Mehmood Bajwa offered to facilitate local investors by using GCCI’s offices for opening investor accounts.

This series of investor road shows were initiated from Sialkot in 2005 and since then had been held in Peshawar, Hyderabad, Quetta, Multan, Sukkur and Faisalabad.

In September 2006, the series was also taken to Abu-Dhabi and Dubai -- an initiative that met an overwhelming response from the UAE-based fund-managers, bankers and Pakistani expatriates.

An even bigger milestone was achieved when these road shows were then taken all the way to London and New York in 2007.

The international exposure from CDC road shows brought tremendous success in terms of foreign-investor relationship development and attracting investments from these business hubs.

The event was managed by Terrabiz.—PPI