Investment opportunities in Pakistan

Pakistan being among the developing economies of the world has the benefit of holding the status of emerging markets

From Shamim Ahmed Rizvi, Islamabad
Jul 31 - Aug 06, 2000

Pakistan offered best investment opportunities both in forex trading and its 3 emerging stock markets operating under most regulated and protective atmosphere promising a good return to the investors.

This was the consensus of the speakers at a Seminar on "Investment opportunities in Pakistan" arranged by Harvest Group of Pakistan in Lahore on Saturday. Harvest Smartrend Securities (Pvt) Limited is a partnership between the Harvest Group of Pakistan and Smartrend International Limited of Hong Kong. Smartrend International Limited is a brokerage arm of Smartrend International Holdings Ltd, a BVI company with an authorized capital of US $ 10 million. The group maintains a wide range of operations in the field of providing financial services, including U.S. securities, forex and commodities trading to investors in the United States and the Asia-Pacific Region. Harvest Smartrend Securities Pvt Ltd. was registered as a corporate member of the Lahore Stock Exchange on October 3, 1999.

The 3 speakers associated with the Harvest Group explained in details to a large gathering of investors and stock dealers, economists and researchers the vast investment opportunities Pakistan offered to both domestic investors and the foreign investors and what important role Harvest was playing as a local brokerage house of international standard in harnessing these potentials by providing expert professional advise and research oriented guidance to its clients to ensure reasonable profits on their protected and safe investments. Harvest provided facilities to both the investors of the stock market as well as forex trading which has recently picked up in Pakistan. The seminar ended with the concluding remarks of Mohammad Gulraze Mir, Chairman and ECO of Harvest Topworld International (Pakistan).

The speakers pointed out that in recent years, emerging stock markets in developing countries have become an important and widely accepted investment tool. Characterized by ever-growing turnover and high potential returns these markets are known to have tremendous growth potentials. In fact, during the past decade, these markets have experienced considerable growth.

Emerging market

Pakistan being among the developing economies of the world has the benefit of holding the status of emerging markets i.e. The stock markets in Pakistan are classified as emerging stock markets. It is because of these wide range of advantages that Harvest Smartrend Securities (Pvt) Ltd. (HSS), a corporate member of Lahore Stock Exchange, offers investors an opportunity to capitalize on such markets.

Introducing the Harvest Group senior Marketing Manager, Mr. Kamran K. Megee said that the group had an international chain which comprised of the following companies, Harvest Topworth International, Harvest Smartrend Securities Pvt. Ltd, First Harvest (Texas) Inc., Harvestrade International Inc., Harvest Global Network Inc., Global Harvest Corp.

Harvest Smartland Securities Pvt Ltd (HSS) and Harvest Topworth (HTW) International are securities and forex brokerage arms of the Harvest operating in Pakistan. HTW is in fact the pioneer of forex brokerage in Pakistan with a largest set up with Hi-tech communication and information system. Speaking on securities in Pakistan. Ms. Humaira Jamil Research analyst said that investment in stock market of Pakistan was today much safer because of the various measures taken by the Securities and Exchange Corporation (SECP) which has assumed the role of real protector of investors. She recommended investment in Pakistan because of its emerging markets, enhanced and improved performance of capital markets during the past few years.

Mr. Akbar Hussain spoke on forex trading which according to him had tremendous potential. He disclosed that trading volume of forex was many time more than investment in share markets. The daily turnover of forex trading which was going on round the clock was about 2 trillion US dollars. The concept was comparatively new in Pakistan but was fast developing. He claimed that HTW of his group was developing forex trading in Pakistan on the most modern lines backed by Hi-tech communication and information system compiled by highly qualified and professional team of researchers.

Mr. Mir, in his concluding remarks explained the importance of forex trading in the growing capital market of Pakistan. He said Harvest Topworth International provides professional and efficient Spot Currency trading facilities and customized investment portfolios to sophisticated investors in Pakistan. In association with the Topworth Group and a worldwide network of investment companies, Harvest Topworth puts the largest global investment market within reach of the Pakistan investment community. Harvest Topworth International, work as a large professional team to serve the best interests of the investors. This is a continuous operation from 5:00 a.m. Monday morning Pakistani time when the Tokyo market opens, to 1:00 a.m. Saturday when the New York market closes. This is basically to protect the interests of the investors from the movement of the currency rates in the Forex Market in and outside the country.