The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan held the fourth session of its Guest Lecture Series in Islamabad, bringing together the SECP Chairman, Commissioners, key industry representatives and media to discuss the state of the country’s capital markets. The heads of Service Long March Tyres, Sitara Petroleum and Select Technologies also took part in the session, giving the discussion direct input from companies that have recently gone through the IPO process themselves.
SECP Commissioner Muzaffar Ahmed Mirza, in his welcome address, said Pakistan’s population of 255 million, with its notably young demographic profile, offers significant business, consumer and investment potential for the country. He noted that the number of investors participating in Pakistan’s capital market remains extremely low relative to the country’s overall population, adding that SECP is aiming to increase the number of investors to 2.5 million. He said access to investment is being made easier through digital onboarding and mobile platforms, with a particular focus on reaching young people and first time investors who may not have previously engaged with formal capital markets.
Mirza said 10 initial public offerings were approved between January and June 2026, through which more than Rs20 billion in capital was raised, giving a concrete measure of recent activity within Pakistan’s IPO market over the first half of the year. This volume of listings and capital raised provides context for SECP’s broader push to expand investor participation, since a growing pipeline of IPOs depends on a correspondingly larger base of investors willing to participate in these offerings.
Representatives from the companies involved in recent IPOs shared specific details of how they used their raised capital. Umar Saeed, Chief Executive Officer of Service Long March Tyres, said IPO proceeds account for 24.6 percent of the funding mix for the company’s Rs22.56 billion passenger vehicle radial tyre project, with all funds raised through the IPO directed toward expanding production capacity, split between plant and machinery and buildings and construction. Zaheer Baig, Chief Executive Officer of Sitara Petroleum Services Limited, said listing provides businesses with access to capital for growth, improved valuation, enhanced credibility and access to institutional investors, while also creating opportunities for institutional scale and stronger governance across companies brought together on a single public market platform.
Adnan Aftab, Chief Executive Officer of Select Technologies, said Rs3.02 billion was raised through the company’s IPO and is being used to expand production capacity for smartphones, air conditioners and smart TVs. Aftab credited SECP’s guidance and support during the listing process for playing an important role in the timely and effective completion of the company’s IPO, offering a direct endorsement of the regulator’s support mechanisms for companies navigating the public listing process.
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