May 13, 2003	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 10, 1424

ISLAMABAD, May 12: The Islamabad Stock Exchange will be providing internet trading facility to enhance the trading activities by the end of this year.

ISE chairman Chaudhry Muhammad Sharif told APP here on Monday the ISE would expand its network to provide facilities to buyers and encourage them to enhance their trading activities. The ISE already initiated Ultra Trading System (UTS) in March for its clients.

The ISE chairman said the bourse had set up an information centre for the guidance of its clients providing them necessary information for carrying out trading business.

He said: “We are trying to establish a liaison between the investors and the businessmen.”

Mr Sharif said the ISE had necessary infrastructure and facilities for its clients and its services are at par with the stock exchanges at Karachi and Lahore.

The number of brokers in the ISE has risen to 105, of which 41 are fully active and operating, he said. “We are moving towards integration and are establishing one ‘national stock exchange’ to integrate all the trading activities in the country.”

Replying to a question, he said volumes at the ISE were increasing gradually with the improvement of economic conditions. He said there was no restriction in any sector for investment in Pakistan and the investors were free to transfer anywhere as much profit they want.—APP