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KARACHI, June 18,2026: Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu, has directed the Pakistan Mercantile Exchange (PMEX) to speed up the development of physically deliverable agricultural futures contracts.
He asked PMEX to prepare a clear roadmap for launching these contracts. In addition, he stressed the need for an integrated Electronic Warehouse Receipt (EWR) system. This system should link warehouses with PMEX in real time. As a result, the initiative will modernize commodity markets and improve price discovery for farmers, traders, and processors.
Dr. Sidhu issued these instructions while chairing a meeting of the PMEX Board of Directors and senior management during his visit to the exchange. The meeting included SECP Commissioner (Securities Market Division) Ali Farid Khwaja, Executive Director Imran Inayat Butt, Director Muhammad Shamoun, and PMEX CEO Khurram Zafar. Moreover, discussions focused on technology adoption, innovation, and strengthening Pakistan’s regulated commodity market.
He further emphasized that efficient commodity markets can improve price discovery and reduce inefficiencies. In addition, they can provide better risk management tools for farmers and processors and improve access to formal finance. Therefore, he said SECP continues to prioritize modern infrastructure for commodity trading.
Meanwhile, PMEX management briefed the Chairman on ongoing efforts to expand futures trading in key agricultural commodities.
In a separate engagement, Dr. Sidhu also visited the National Clearing Company of Pakistan Limited (NCCPL). During the visit, he met the Board of Directors and received briefings on clearing and settlement operations, risk management systems, and capital gains tax services. He also reviewed ongoing and planned projects to strengthen capital market infrastructure.
Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of strong post-trade institutions in ensuring market integrity and investor confidence. Finally, he reaffirmed SECP’s commitment to technology-driven reforms, improved efficiency, and greater transparency to support sustainable economic growth.
