ISLAMABAD, April 23: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that the development of capital markets and their performance are an important pillar of the economy. The prime minister was talking to Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan Chairman Tariq Hassan, who called on him here at the Prime Minister House on Saturday and presented him the annual report of the SECP for the year 2004.

The prime minister said that the capital markets had developed and shown good performance because of the structural reforms introduced by the government and added that more reforms would be made.

Mr Aziz said that the fundamentals of economy were strong and corporate earnings of the companies listed in the stock exchange have also shown profits. “This has had a positive impact on the markets.”

The SECP chairman briefed the prime minister on the reforms carried out by the commission.

The prime minister appreciated the performance of the SECP and directed the chairman to continue the process of reforms. Minister of State for Finance Umar Ayub Khan was also present on the occasion.