In order to spread awareness through its investor education program ‘Jamapunji’, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), in collaboration with The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), the National Incubation Center (NIC) and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) conducted awareness sessions in Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar. The sessions conducted in collaboration with TiE in Lahore and Islamabad were part of a competition series for aspiring entrepreneurs titled Startup Cup 2017, being conducted in several cities of Pakistan in collaboration with the US Embassy and the HEC. The primary objective of these sessions is to nurture the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Pakistan so that new businesses contributing to national economic prosperity are created.
The SECP’s experts mentored and guided several startups on the importance, procedures and benefits of incorporation. The startups presented business plans relating to new ideas expected to deliver economic value in the areas of technology, mobile applications, e-commerce, financial services, agriculture and social development. Additional sessions are scheduled to take place in Karachi and Peshawar in the coming weeks. A session of a similar nature was subsequently conducted at the NIC head office in Islamabad for many startups representing sectors such as technology, travel, retail and others. The sessions were followed by an interactive session in which attending startups sought clarity on the process and requirements of registering their entities with the SECP.
Another session on company incorporation and equity financing was conducted at the regional center of the HEC for Offices of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORICs) of various universities in the norther region of the country. Senior academics from Kohat University, SBB Women University KPK, UET Peshawar, Shaheed Benazir University Shiringle, Islamia College Peshawar, University of Science and Technology Bannu, and CECOS University of IT and Engineering Peshawar
Expert speakers provided information on the SECP’s online incorporation services, fast track registration services and in particular the SECP’s supportive role for development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Pakistan. The interactive discussion around private equity for financing startups and SECP’s role in encouraging SME listing lead to healthy debate and feedback. The attendees expressed their appreciation for the SECP’s ongoing efforts and acknowledged the awareness impact of such sessions. They invited the SECP to conduct such sessions at their respective ORICs and university campuses to help educate and encourage budding student entrepreneurs.
