Comparative regional statistics reflect that Pakistan has the lowest indicators for saving and investment including insurance penetration and participation in pension and mutual funds. The country also has a low investor base in the capital markets which results in low volumes and lack of liquidity.
On July 13, the KSE and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) along with key non-banking financial market stakeholders, including the Lahore Stock Exchange, Islamabad Stock Exchange, Pakistan Mercantile Exchange, Central Depository Company, National Clearing Company, Mutual Funds Association of Pakistan and the Insurance Association of Pakistan, embarked upon a nation-wide Investor Education and Awareness Programme targeting various segments of the society from university students to retired individuals and general public with an aim at creating awareness of various financial products and nurturing a savings culture in Pakistan.
Since the inception of nation-wide Investor Awareness Generation Programme, KSE has organised four Investor Education Programmes for adult investors at its premises for new investors, retired individuals and aggrieved investors of 2008. With a view to create awareness about Capital Markets in our nation's youth, an interactive learning programme "Preserving and Growing your Savings" was jointly launched by Karachi Stock Exchanges and Institute of Capital Markets on October 16, and as such investment related basic education has been imparted to around 1,500 students of premier educational institutions like FAST University, IOBM Institute of Business Management, College of Business Management, ISRA University (Hyderabad), Sindh University (Badin Campus), and Government Premier College, Karachi.
The Young Investor Education Programme has been specifically tailored for school/college/university students and utilises advanced illustration techniques, open-ended quizzes, practical examples, case studies and role-playing teaching strategies.