March 8, 2006	Wednesday	Safar 7, 1427

ISLAMABAD, March 7: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has launched two guides, “Conversion of Status of Companies” and “Shareholders’ Rights”, stated an official announcement issued here on Tuesday.

The booklet on conversion of status is aimed at educating the investors about the procedures involved in conversion of a single member company into a multi-member company and a private company into a public company or vice versa.

The guide booklet on rights is developed to create awareness among the shareholders of the corporate sector about their rights, with the main focus on ensuring members’ participation in the company’s affairs.

The shareholders are entitled to various rights under the various provisions of the Companies Ordinance, 1984, exercise of which not only protects their interests but also results in the implementation of good governance principles in the corporate entities.

The guide booklets are a summary of the detailed procedures provided in the Companies Ordinance. The publications are part of a booklet series started by the SECP to create awareness among the investors.

It is advisable that these guide booklets should be studied in conjunction with the relevant provisions of the Companies Ordinance and the rules framed there under. The two publications can be obtained from the SECP head office and its regional offices in eights cities and also available at the SECP’s website.