SECP vows to continue its vigorous enforcement drive

KARACHI

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) reaffirms its commitment to continue its vigorous campaign against perpetrators of manipulative schemes, insider traders and violators of regulatory principles.

It is pertinent to mention here that the SECP has a very extensive scope under the law that includes regulating the capital markets, corporate, insurance companies, non-banking financial companies, collected investment schemes and other licensed entities linked to the sectors under its jurisdiction.

The SEPC’s activities are governed through various laws, i.e. the SECP (amendment) Act 2016, Companies Act, 2017, Securities Act, 2015, Insurance Act, 2002, and a number of other laws.

The powers of these laws for regulating, monitoring, surveillance and of taking enforcement actions have been delegated to various divisions and departments of the commission. The departments authorised for certain regulatory actions, i.e., supervision, investigation, inquiries, surveillance, onsite and offsite inspections continue to function regularly irrespective of any change in the management. While enforcing compliance of relevant laws, the various departments of the SECP continue their efforts and have zero tolerance for any violations of shareholder rights and public interest in general.

In order to maintain effective credible deterrence, the SECP is continually performing its functions by carrying out investigations relating to insider trading and market manipulation. These investigations due to intricacies involved in their just disposal, are at different stages of completion and the commission will proceed as per its legal and regulatory regimes.

It is pertinent to reiterate that the SECP believes in enhancing the legal and operational relationship with related agencies for effective law enforcement.

Similarly, during the on-going quarter starting July 1, 2017, the relevant department of the SECP has completed offsite examination of annual accounts of 50 companies and quarterly accounts of 52 companies.