SECP Gives More Power to Executive Director

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has delegated more powers to the executive director (ED) of the Policy Regulation and Development Department of the Specialized Companies Division to take decisions on pension funds.

According to a notification issued by the SECP, some important powers have been delegated to the executive director of the Policy Regulation and Development Department of the Specialized Companies Division.

According to the notification, the commission has conferred the powers to the executive director to approve merger, acquisition, or takeover of the management of any other pension fund. The ED will also be authorized to prescribe the information that would be submitted by the pension fund managers to the commission within one month of the close of any accounting period.

The ED will be the authority to specify such other information which the pension fund manager would be required to send within 30 days to the participants on the period ended June 30 and December 31 of each year. The commission also authorized the powers to approve a mechanism for placement of orders under a single Universal Identification Number (UIN) and to specify a methodology for calculating the value of units of each sub-fund.

The SECP also conferred the powers to approve the procedure of purchasing of units of sub-funds of the pension fund at the time of receipt of a contribution from the participants. The ED will now also be responsible to specify allocation policy and prescribing the standardized performance benchmark of the pension fund.

The executive director will be the authority to specify the requirements of advertisements of a pension fund and to approve amendments in the fundamental attributes of the pension fund and/or amendments with respect to the offering of units to the public.

The commission also conferred powers to the executive director to vary or withdraw the approval granted for advertisements or other invitations. According to the notification, the commission will have the authority to exercise all powers delegated above to the officer concurrently. The commissioner will have the authority to exercise all powers delegated above to the officer concurrently.

Source: Pro Pakistani

Govt completing record development projects in transparent manner: Buzdar

Punjab Chief Minister, Usman Buzdar says government is completing record development projects in a transparent manner in the province.

While addressing the tribal elders and notables of the area in his native town barthi on Thursday, he said that we have initiated projects even in those areas where no development work carried so far.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Provision of basic facilities will be ensured to masses: President

President Dr. Arif Alvi says strengthening institutions and ensuring merit as well as transparency are foremost priorities of the government.

He expressed these views during a meeting with Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar in Lahore on Thursday.

The President said provision of basic facilities including health and education will be ensured to the masses.

The Punjab Governor said twelve hundred projects of Punjab Aab-e-Pak Authority will be completed in March this year.

Source: Radio Pakistan

FM Qureshi calls for effective steps to cope with water related challenges

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has stressed for effective steps to cope with water related challenges keeping in view the regional, geographical, political, economic and environmental factors.

He was chairing the maiden meeting Experts' Working Group regarding water diplomacy in Islamabad on Thursday.

The Foreign Minister said Pakistan is ranked amongst the countries which are faced with severe water shortage. Being an agrarian country, he said, the availability of water resources is of immense important for our agriculture economy.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Subordinate institutions announce to extend all possible assistance to AJK Govt: UN

United Nations says its subordinate institutions will extend all possible assistance to the AJK Government in achieving its sustainable development goals.

This was disclosed by UN Resident Coordinator for Pakistan Juline Harnes and FAO representative Florence Roley during a meeting with AJK Prime Minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi in Muzaffarabad today (Thursday).

During the meeting, the UN Sustainable Development Assistance Framework 2023-27 came under detailed discussion.

Juline Harnes and Florence Roley said that AJK Government will be assisted in health, education, nutrition, social security, gender equity, women empowerment, climate change, sustainable and comprehensive economic development, improving governance, and other related sectors.

Speaking on the occasion, AJK PM said that alleviating poverty, health education, provision of clean drinking water, self-employment, environmental protection and gender equality are our government's priorities.

Source: Radio Pakistan