Islamabad: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) in partnership with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has launched the second training session on the development of the Commodity Futures Market in Islamabad. The session aims to enhance the functioning and regulation of the agricultural commodities market, which is pivotal to Pakistan’s economy.
According to Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, the training involves various stakeholders, including government officials, SECP representatives, market intermediaries, agri-tech companies, and corporates. The focus of this collaborative effort is on market development, regulation, and strengthening the commodity futures market through a series of capacity-building exercises.
Mr. Akif Saeed, Chairman of SECP, emphasized the significant role of agricultural commodities in the national economy and outlined SECP’s ongoing initiatives, such as consultations with stakeholders to foster a robust commodities derivatives market. He also acknowledged the support of Mr. Kevin Piccoli, Deputy Director at U.S. CFTC, in facilitating this international cooperation.
Dr. Akmal Siddiq, Advisor for the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, praised the initiative for its focus on market development and regulatory strengthening. He highlighted the critical technical assistance provided by the U.S. CFTC and expressed optimism that the training and awareness efforts would spur the future development of Pakistan’s commodities futures markets.
The initiative not only aims to establish stronger linkages between agricultural commodities markets and the futures market but also seeks to enhance regulatory frameworks to build investor trust and ensure market integrity.
The training sessions are part of a series being held in Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore, with the first session in Karachi attracting a diverse group of stakeholders.