ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan chairman Khalid A. Mirza on Friday directed the company registration offices (CROs) to expedite completion of arrangements for making company registration online.

Addressing a three-day conference of the Company Law Administration Division (CLAD) of SECP here, he expressed his appreciation of the improved public image of CROs, but emphasized the need to have more automation at the SECP offices along the lines of top class corporate regulators in the world.

He was satisfied to note that company incorporation in Pakistan was now being done in 48 hours and that several other services were provided the same day.”The CROs have improved significantly over the past few years, but there is always room for further improvement,” he added.

Mirza further directed the CLAD to ensure that advance warnings to corporate about filing of forms were issued and due dates of compliance with the company law. For this, a computer- generated automatic reminder should be sent to them, he said.

The CROs, the SECP chairman went on to observe, had changed their look and attitude towards the public and had a friendlier atmosphere.

Mirza called upon the officers to bear in mind that they transform their mind-set to that of a service oriented organization, which should at all times be willing and trying to facilitate the corporate sector in making provisions for discharge of corporate responsibilities.

The main theme of the conference was to review its performance, discuss recent amendments in the legal framework and standardisation of procedures for handling of public complaints. The conference also discussed the developments in other laws administered by the SECP.