November 25, 2003	Tuesday	Ramazan 29, 1424

LAHORE, Nov 24: A forum of exchange and securities regulatory organizations of South Asian countries will be held at a local hotel on December 4 on the sidelines of the third annual general meeting of South Asian Federation of Exchanges (SAFE) being held here on December 3-4.

According to Lahore Stock Exchange (LSE) on Monday, the regulatory bodies attending the forum are: Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), Securities and Exchange Commission of Bangladesh, Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka, Nepal Rastra Bank, Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan and Financial Services Commission of Mauritius.

Punjab Governor, Lt. General (rtd) Khalid Maqbool will inaugurate the third annual general meeting of SAFE.

Finance Minister, Shaukat Aziz will be the chief guest at the concluding session. The meeting earlier slated for April 17-18 last, was postponed due to the outbreak of Sars in the South East Asia.

“Preparations for the meet are in full swing,” Managing Director, Lahore Stock Exchange (LSE), Samir Ahmad told APP.

SAFE comprises the bourses from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Pakistan, Nepal and Mauritius.

The main member bourses include Karachi Stock Exchange, Lahore Stock Exchange, Islamabad Stock Exchange, Mumbai Stock Exchange (BSE), Madras Stock Exchange, Calcutta Stock Exchange, Delhi Stock Exchange, Pune Stock Exchange, OTCE of India, NSE of India, Ludhiana Stock Exchange, Royal Stock Exchange of Bhutan, Dhaka Stock Exchange, Chittagong Stock Exchange, Colombo Stock Exchange, Mauritius Stock Exchange and Nepal Stock Exchange.

“The main objective of the meet is to discuss the ways to promote cooperation among the South Asian nations through stock business,” Samir Ahmad said.

On the first day of the moot, report on a study financed by European Union on Listing Regulations in South Asia will be presented by the Secretary General of SAFE, Wali Maaroof Al- Mateen.—APP