Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu replaces Akif Saeed as SECP chief

ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister has appointed Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu as the new Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), a notification issued by the federal government confirmed on Friday.

Dr Sidhu, who currently serves as the Chairman of the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), brings over two decades of legal and regulatory experience spanning both Pakistan and the United Kingdom. He holds a PhD from the University of Manchester, specialising in stock exchange regulations and investor protection, making him an expert in law and banking.

Throughout his tenure at the CCP, Dr Sidhu was credited with streamlining judicial processes and enhancing regulatory enforcement. Under his leadership, the Commission reduced the judicial backlog by 70 per cent, with 434 out of 567 pending cases decided by courts and tribunals in just two years.

Dr Sidhu also oversaw significant recoveries and fines against corporate malpractices. The CCP recovered Rs 1.36 billion in fines, while imposing over Rs 1 billion in new fines on cartels and companies engaged in misleading marketing practices. His balanced and transparent decision-making in high-profile cases, including the PTCL-Telenor merger, received international recognition.

Before joining the CCP, Dr Sidhu served as a senior legal consultant in the Ministry of Law and the Privatization Commission, and worked extensively with insurance companies, law firms, and financial institutions in the UK. His global experience, combined with a deep understanding of Pakistan’s legal and regulatory environment, is expected to shape the SECP’s strategic direction in capital market development, corporate governance, and investor protection.

A government spokesperson highlighted that Dr Sidhu’s appointment reflects a commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s financial regulatory framework and ensuring transparency, efficiency, and accountability in the capital markets.

Dr Sidhu replaces Akif Saeed who was appointed SECP chairman in December 2022.