- June 19, 2026
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Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu has directed the management of the Pakistan Mercantile Exchange (PMEX) to develop a practical roadmap for launching physically deliverable agricultural futures contracts, said a statement on Thursday.
He emphasised that the contracts should be supported by an integrated Electronic Warehouse Receipt (EWR) system with real-time connectivity between warehouses and PMEX. The initiative is intended to modernise Pakistan’s commodity markets, improve price discovery, and expand access to transparent and efficient markets for farmers, traders and processors.
Dr Sidhu issued these directions while chairing a meeting of the PMEX Board of Directors and senior management during a visit to the exchange. The meeting was attended by SECP Commissioner (Securities Market Division) Ali Farid Khwaja, Executive Director Imran Inayat Butt, Director Muhammad Shamoun, and PMEX Managing Director and CEO Khurram Zafar. Discussions focused on strengthening Pakistan’s regulated commodity futures market through technology, innovation and market-based solutions.
The chairperson underscored that efficient commodity markets could play a transformative role in improving price discovery, reducing market inefficiencies, providing risk management tools to farmers and processors, and facilitating access to formal finance. He stressed that modernising commodity market infrastructure remained a key priority for the SECP, and called for innovative products and wider market participation to unlock the sector's full potential.
The PMEX management briefed the Chairman on ongoing initiatives to expand futures trading in key agricultural commodities.Dr Sidhu also visited the headquarters of the National Clearing Company of Pakistan Limited (NCCPL), where he met members of the Board of Directors. NCCPL management briefed him on the company's key functions, including clearing and settlement operations, risk management systems, and capital gains tax services. The chairperson was apprised of ongoing projects and future initiatives aimed at further strengthening the country's capital market infrastructure.
He emphasised the importance of robust post-trade institutions in ensuring market integrity, investor confidence, and operational resilience. He reaffirmed the SECP’s commitment to strengthening capital and commodity market institutions through technology-driven reforms, greater efficiency, and enhanced transparency to support sustainable economic growth.
Source: The International News Pakistan
