February 23, 2008	Saturday	Safar 15, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) here on Friday inaugurated the facilitation centre at its company registration office (CRO).

SECP chairman Raziur Rehman inaugurated the centre at a ceremony attended by the corporate sector and various members of the professional fraternity.

This is the second such centre opened after the one already operating in Lahore. As part of its facilitation measures to promote a corporate culture, the SECP plans to open similar centres at its CROs in other cities as well.

The centre, through its various counters, will extend specialised and state-of-the-art facilities in a time-bound and in an effective manner. It is envisaged that the centre will go a long way in providing an investor friendly environment, and promoting awareness and assistance for corporatisation of business entities.

A number of counters have been established at the centre to ensure an expeditious services delivery to the corporate sector, the investors and the general public through one-window operation. They include the receipt counter, issue counter and the information and special services counter.

The receipt counter has been established for receipt of returns, accounts, applications, and other documents filed by the companies under the provisions of Companies Ordinance, 1984.

The issue counter takes care of the issuance of certificates of registration, acknowledgement of filing and letters, as prescribed under the Companies (Registration Offices) Regulations, 2003. Computerised acknowledgment receipt will be issued in respect of each return and application filed with the registrar concerned.