CFA Society Pakistan recently celebrated its 20th anniversary and reflected on the integral role it has played in the local investment industry.
By promoting ethics and excellence in practice, actively engaging with regulators and developing strategic collaborations, CFA Society Pakistan has positively contributed to Pakistan’s capital market development over the last 20 years. The local society has continually promoted the CFA® Program and launched initiatives in areas of research with rising importance, including ESG, Fintech and Islamic Finance.
To mark its anniversary, the local society hosted a special celebratory event in Karachi, Pakistan, in October 2022, which discussed the last two decades of capital markets in Pakistan and looked to future developments. The event, “Past Decades and Road Ahead: Pakistan’s Capital Markets 2002 – 2042”, featured a strong line-up of local and international speakers, including Dr. Miftah Ismail, former Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Pakistan; Ms. Sima Kamil, Deputy Governor, State Bank of Pakistan; and Mr. Farrukh H. Khan, CEO/Managing Director, Pakistan Stock Exchange. The founding president, Mr. Mohammad Shoaib, CFA, also shared his early memories of CFA Society Pakistan and its accomplishments over the years. (View the full line-up of high-profile speakers here.)
At the event, Dr. Miftah Ismail recognized the importance of promoting the CFA Program in Pakistan and encouraged the industry to hire more CFA charterholders, as they serve as a vital link between local market practices and global best practices. Ms. Sima Kamil added that CFA® charterholders can play an important role in promoting areas like green finance and Islamic banking and can help bridge gaps in outreach faced by capital markets.
Addressing the audience virtually, Ms. Marg Franklin, President and CEO, CFA Institute, congratulated the board, members, staff and volunteers who have dedicated their time and resources to the success of CFA Society Pakistan. She applauded the efforts of the local society to engage stakeholders at all stages of their investment career journey and provide high quality professional development opportunities to those who are eager to excel.
Mr. Aamir Khan, Chairman, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) also recognised the effective role CFA Society Pakistan has played in supporting the SECP mandate for developing various financial products and increasing investor penetration in the mutual fund industry. He noted the support the local society has provided in raising awareness, capacity building and research for issues related to corporate governance, sustainability and ESG based investing.
The anniversary event was a huge success and attracted over 160 attendees. The local society also secured media coverage from news agencies and a leading business newspaper in Pakistan published a special report on the 20 Year Journey of CFA Society Pakistan.
In addition, as part of the celebrations, an exclusive screening of a local play was organized in Karachi for members of CFA Society Pakistan, and their families and friends. This was a deviation from usual events and aimed to contribute positively to members’ work-life balance.
Mr. Abdul Rehman Warraich, former president, CFA Society Pakistan stated: “I am honoured to be a part of this landmark achievement of CFA Society Pakistan. The CFA community has a far-reaching impact globally, and as fellow CFA charterholders, it is our responsibility to ensure that we leverage our knowledge, expertise, and our global connectivity to impact global debate. We have several more exciting events lined up and hope to share many more memorable celebrations with our members in the year ahead.”
Note: This article was originally published in Connexions by CFA Institute.
View more details of our 20th Anniversary Celebrations here.