Mr. Zafar Abdullah is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP). He did his chartered accountancy from KPMG Pakistan and got extensive training in the areas of assurance and audit, financial advisory and corporate advisory. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Karachi University.
He has served SECP as Commissioner for two consecutive terms (3 years each), primarily overseeing Specialized Companies Division (SCD) and Securities Market Division (SMD). During this period, he also served as Acting Chairman from July 24, 2017 to May 11, 2018. In addition, served/headed different other Divisions/Departments of SECP as Commissioner including Support Services Division (SSD), Company Law Division (CLD), Prosecution & Legal Affairs Division (PLAD), Islamic Finance Department (IFD), Media & Corporate Communication Department (MCCD), Information Systems and Technology Department, Information Security Department, Translation Department, Internal Audit and Compliance Department, Shariah Advisory Board, Commission’s Secretariat, and Market Development & Investor’s Education Department (MD & IED). As a member of the SECP Appellate Bench (a quasi-judicial forum), he had been part of more than two hundred (200) judgements passed. He also led the team assigned drafting of the Securities Act, 2015 and made contributions as team member in drafting of Companies Act, 2017 and Code of Corporate Governance Regulations, 2017.
During the period of January 2007 to February 2008, he has also served as Executive Director (ED), Securities Market Division. Being ED, responsible to oversee the regulatory functions of the capital market institutions, including the three Stock Exchanges, Securities Depository, Clearing & Settlement Company and the Mercantile Exchange.
Served as Company Secretary and Head of Legal Division with Faysal Bank Limited in 2012 before leaving Crosby Securities Pakistan (Private) Limited (CSPL) as CEO which he joined in 2008. Other than these, he has been associated with Dewan Mushtaq Group as Group Company Secretary, Central Depository Company of Pakistan Limited (CDC) as their 1st head of operation and Karachi Stock Exchange (Guarantee) Limited as Chief of Operations.
He is currently working as an independent consultant providing advisory services relating to Corporate Compliance, Corporate Governance, Securities Laws, Corporate Laws, Merger & Acquisition, Corporate Finance, Corporate Strategies, Public Offerings and Listings.
Current role