ISLAMABAD: The government has, for the first time, appointed a private sector expert to head the policy board at the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP).

Khalid Mirza, former chairman SECP and Competition Commission of Pakistan, has replaced the secretary finance who was working as the chairman SECP policy board.

The government has also issued notification for appointment of six members from the private sector on the board including Sadiq Saeed (JS investments), Farrukh Khan (BMA Capital), Adnan Afridi (Ex-CEO KSE), Waqar ul Islam and Asad Ali Shah (Chartered Accountant).

During his tenure at the SECP, Khalid Mirza spearheaded the implementation of major programmes for the capital markets and introduced corporate sector reforms.

He also played a pivotal role in transforming the Monopoly Control Authority into a modern competition agency and has also served as the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Chief of Mission in Turkey and Chief of Regional Mission in Thailand.

Other members of the policy board include Adnan Afridi who served as the Group Head of Strategy and Investor Relations at Silk Bank Limited.

Mr Afridi served as the Managing Director of Karachi Stock Exchange (Guarantee) Ltd from October 2007 to November 2010. In addition to that, he has served as the Chairman of National Clearing Company of Pakistan Ltd since April 2010.

Syed Asad Ali Shah is senior Chartered Accountant who has also served as the President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Pakistan during 2008-09, and member of the International Federation of Accountants board.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2018