Pakistan takes the lead and launches world's first portal for Islamic investments

The world's first portal for Islamic Investment Products www.khabeer.com.pk launched in Karachi yesterday. Khabeer Financial Services (Pvt) Ltd. takes the lead not only in the Muslim World but also world-wide by introducing a financial planning service and tools for those seeking to invest in Shariah Compliant investment products offered by Mutual Funds, Islamic Banks, Islamic Windows of conventional banks and Takaful companies.

The launch ceremony was held at a local hotel and was attended by a large number of CEO's and senior officials of Asset Management Companies / Mutual Funds, Islamic Banks and Takaful companies. The industry experts opined that it was perhaps the largest gathering of such professionals in a long time. Notable attendees included Mr. Imtiaz Haider, Commissioner Securities Market Division, SECP; Mr. Shaharyar Ahmad, MD, Pak Kuwait Investment Company; Mr. Arif Habib, Chairman, Arif Habib Group; Mr. Tahir Ahmed, MD, Jubilee General Insurance; Mr. Mohsin Nathani, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank; Mr. Mohammed Shoaib, CEO, Al-Meezan Investment; Mr. M. Nasir Ali Syed, CEO, Pak-Qatar Family Takaful; Mr. Rashid Mansur, CEO, JS Investments; and many others.

Mr. Imitiaz Haider speaking on the occasion greatly appreciated the Portal and stated that this service will certainly help in promoting investments in Islamic Products and will make them available all over the country in a more affordable manner. SECP has launched an extensive investor education program which will work closely with this portal as its aim are totally in line with those of the SECP. He also lauded the company for the values expressed in its prayer at the end of the presentation - "We at Khabeer Financial Services pray to Allah the Al-Khabeer (the all-knowing, the expert) that we are able to provide wise advice and correct information that acts to the benefit to our clients and that we are able to improve and extend the Shariah Compliant financial industry in Pakistan."

Mr. Arif Habib, whose company is also an investor in Khabeer, said that he was very excited about the portal and its potential for promoting investments in Pakistan. He also commented on the potential of the portal to mobilize the savings of overseas Pakistanis who hold the potential of nearly US$ 20 billion in investment per annum. The Chairman of Khabeer, Dr. Junaid Ahmad, a well known entrepreneur, commented that www.khabeer.com.pk was the first portal of its kind in the world. Khabeer plans to promote the portal through the web, social media, seminars, exhibitions, print and electronic media and in time will also make versions of its portal available in Urdu & other national languages and through mobile phones.

The company's CEO, Mr. Akmal Jameel, gave a detailed presentation about the portal and said that they launched www.khabeer.com.pk in response to what they felt was a market need for information about Islamic financial products. If a person has some money and wishes to invest in an Islamic way he is confronted by a very large number of products and becomes confused about what to do. The portal not only provides him information but will also assist him in making the investments. The service is focused mainly on the retail market and wishes to facilitate small and medium sized savers and investors.