Panel agrees to strengthen enforcement powers of SECP

ISLAMABAD: A high-level meeting of the Prime Minister’s Committee on strengthening the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) was held under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar to discuss measures for improving enforcement, reducing litigation backlog, and enhancing investor protection.

The meeting was held in pursuance of the committee constituted by the Prime Minister to review and propose reforms for strengthening SECP and improving its regulatory effectiveness.

The Committee, constituted to review measures for strengthening SECP, comprises the Federal Minister for Law and Justice as Chair, along with the Cabinet Secretary, Secretary Finance, Secretary Law and Justice, Chairman SECP, and Chairman Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP).

Chairman SECP, Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu, informed the meeting that over 2,000 cases related to SECP are currently pending in courts, leading to delays in enforcement and low recovery of penalties despite significant recoverable amounts. He highlighted the need for stronger enforcement powers and proposed the establishment of dedicated tribunals for speedy disposal of cases. He also suggested a shift towards a civil enforcement regime, particularly for market-related violations, in line with international best practices.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026