What are the major financial houses in Pakistan, web sites, and what type of financial sector jobs exist for people heading back from the states. Specifically I am looking for companies who would be interested specifically in hiring MBA level cadidates from the states in analyst or research positions.
Compensation levels would also help :).
Financial Services in Pakistan are not only increasing in number but simultaneoulsy we are witnessing a deepening within the sector as well. The level of sophistication, expertise and choice and usage of instruments is increasing every passing day.
Some of the major research houses here are:
Khadim Ali Shah Bukhari (affiliate of Merryl Lynch)
AKD Securities
Jahangir Siddiqui & Co. Ltd.
Global Securities
InvestCap Securities
CapitalOne Securities
First Capital Securities
and a couple of others. There are about 19 active research houses in all. Most of the research houses employ fresh Finance MBA graduates from either IBA or LUMS (though there are other graduates too, foreign or otherwise). The starting position is Analyst. You can google these names to get to their websites or i can provide them if required.
The kind of jobs that exist here are primarily either in Investment Banks, Research Houses and/or Mutual Funds. Mutual Funds are an upcoming field and a combo of MBA Finance+CFA usually helps.
Investment Banks that are really active in the domestic capital markets are as follows:
United Bank Limited (for which yours truly works. We are the largest IB team in Pakistan, just for the record. 12 individuals)
Standard Chartered Bank
ABN AMRO NV
Citigroup
National Bank of Pakistan
Global Securities
Khadim Ali Shah Bukhari
You must have noticed that local banks have come a long way in IB services (since they have the benefit of having large balance sheets so they can write a part of the asset of their own books-a benefit which is not available to foreign banks due to their small books). Human resource expertise has vastly increased and so has the credit culture in local banks. We are giving foreign banks a run for their money (if we haven't already done it).
Investment Banking activity's spectrum in a full scale IB here is as follows:
a) Loan Syndications and Debt Capital Market
b) Project Finance
c) Advisory (covering equity IPOs, restructurings etc)
Some institutions have also started private equity initiatives here. Like Crosby's has started its private equity operations under the name of Dragon Fund here.
We have a range of other products as well (such as a captive mutual fund) but leave that for the time being. The core products are listed above.
Good analysts with sound knowledge of financial modelling and basic business sense are in demand :D Starting salaries are not that great (but top of the line for local fresh grads). Monthly starting salaries average can be PKR 25,000 and above.
Hope it helps, lemme know in case you need any more info.
mukhlis,
Darn I had written a lenghty response and the server ate it up!
Ok so whats the %volume of work between A Vs B+C. Do any of the financial houses train their employees? how important is a strong financial background to working in these places? Whats the typical background of the people who are leading these analyst teams?
How liquid is the equities market? How useful is the research done at these banks in comparison with the research done in the US. I.E. Would a foreign bank bring their own analysts to do research or would they be fairly confident that the work been done in the US is at the same level.
and does 25K = $500? What are the job growth opportunities and how can people from overseas get hired at these places?
Basically is Pakistan a good place to become an Analyst and learn the trade?
^never mind partner. 
I would say A takes over 50% of the total IB work here while the rest is perhaps split 20% and 30% between B and C respectively. Syndications is in :k: big time. Going forward though, i see B edging past faster than C and would squeeze A’s share considerably. Signs of time as i read them.
Typical background for leaders in IB is generally a well-rounded investment and corporate banking experience (abroad as well as local. case in point our IB head is an ex-JP Morgan gentleman). These are typical IB jobs so a strong background in finance in a given must, though fields like corporate banking, credit risk management (where more subjective stuff and critical reasoning and analysis comes in, the finance may take a somewhat backseat).
Equities market is at an all-time high (about to touch the coveted 5000 point mark and this time around it is on a solid footing unlike the 1994 bubble (as there is solid local investor participation in the market and market P/E is relatively low and dividend yields are high.
Research done by our research houses (most of them) is comparable to the work done abroad (in most respects). Khadim’s work is par excellence (ML doesn’t compromise on quality of course). Work done is decidely useful for all IB professionals and is valuable to both local and foreign banks. No, local graduates and analysts are preferred though foreign grads are also seen in some houses.
Yes, around $500. People get hired at these places just like local grads do. Apply 
and then go through the mill. In an upcoming emerging market, i think this is the best time to get in such IBs-to learn and rise with the organization.
In short, while replying to your last point: Yes, it is. Good luck.