Karachi Stock Exchange had a meeting with Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) on September 03, 2012 to upgrade Pakistan's capital market's status from frontier to emerging markets.
The KSE delegation was led by Munir Kamal, Chairman, Karachi Stock Exchange, and included Nadeem Naqvi, Managing Director, Karachi Stock Exchange, Muhammad Hanif Jhakura, Chief Executive Officer, Central Depository Company of Pakistan and Haroon Askari, Deputy Managing Director, Karachi Stock Exchange along with other market participants.
MSCI is a leading provider of market indices across the world. The delegation updated MSCI on the demutualization of the stock exchanges in Pakistan, structural changes and comprehensive reforms in regulatory framework, risk management and operations of the exchange.
The KSE delegation also highlighted underlying signs of economic stabilisation in Pakistan, change in monetary policy stance, centralisation of Capital Gain Tax at National Clearing Company of Pakistan and implementation of KYC and Anti Money Laundering Regulations in the Stock Brokerage industry. The delegation specifically accentuated the steps taken by the government including the 18th Amendment and the improvement in trade relations between Pakistan and India to accelerate development of bilateral business and investment between the two countries.
As a result of the above measures, improvement in market dynamics that has taken place in the last six to eight months was emphasised by the KSE delegation. MSCI officials appreciated the comprehensive macro market and institutional capacity update presented to them and said that these factors will be kept in mind when the next review is due, and if there are any additional aspects that they need to understand, they will contact KSE. At the same time, MSCI highlighted they have a responsibility toward providing an objective assessment regarding sustainably of market reforms and institutional capacity to end users of MSCI indices.-PR