ACCA Pakistan Leadership Conversation (PLC) 2023 concludes, emphasis on sustainable thinking

         

 

The 2023 edition of ACCA Pakistan Leadership Conversation (PLC) concluded with its finale session in Lahore featuring country’s top business and thought leaders who were engaged in future-focused conversations with an aim to develop forward-thinking, actionable strategies and policies to drive innovation, sustainability and resilience.  

Themed ‘Shaping the future in uncertain times’, the conference was divided in three sessions held in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore with contributions from over 50 Conversation Leaders representing key regulators, top corporates, development organisations and influential think tanks.  

Session’s Guest of Honour, Dr Amjad Saqib, Founder and CEO, Akhuwat Foundation, emphasised on the importance of financial inclusion and development of a society based on the ‘Muakhat’ system to support micro-entrepreneurs and ensure inclusive growth.

Insightful keynotes were delivered by Sajjad Syed, Chairman, Excellence Delivered, Shaista Ayesha, CEO, SEED Ventures, Badar Khushnood, Cofounder @ Fishry.com E-commerce and Joseph Owolabi, ACCA’s global President.

Notable conversation leaders who deliberated at the conference included Aleena Kareem FCCA, Co-Founder, SHAOOR, Zia ul Mustafa Awan, Chairman – Strategic Board, ICMA Pakistan, Dr. Arshad Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, LUMS, Toima Asghar, CHRO, Systems Limited, Komal Altaf, CFO, Nestlé Pakistan Ltd., Masooma Zaidi, VP Sales, Interloop Limited, Muhammad Awais, Partner, EY Ford Rhodes, Jalal Hassan, CEO, Punjab Board of Investment & Trade, Kashif Anwar, President, Lahore Chamber of Commerce Industry, Shahzaib Sanwal, Member, ACCA Members Network Panel, Sadaffe Abid, Founder and CEO, CIRCLE Women and Sajjad Parekh, Franchise Operations Finance Director, The Coca-Cola Export Corporation Pakistan Branch.

Sharing conference’s objective, Assad Hameed Khan, head of ACCA Pakistan, said:

‘The aim of the conference is to develop a meaningful framework for growth, facilitate ideation, and shape forward-thinking policy choices and business opportunities, focusing on high-impact actions to contribute to the country's progress.’

Joseph Owolabi, ACCA global President, also shared his thoughts on the topic ‘Accounting for a Better World: Business and Government’.

Seed Ventures joined ACCA as this year’s co-organisers. Bank Islami and The Coca-Cola Company were the Strategic Partners. Platinum Partners included SKANS School of Accountancy, U Microfinance Bank, and The Millennium Universal College. Telenor Group Adroit Accountax/ Obox Accounting, National Clearing Company of Pakistan Limited, National Disaster Risk Management Fund, Tabani's School of Accountancy, PAC Group of Colleges and Mirchawala’s Hub of Accountancy supported as Gold Partners. TCM – The Centrum Media joined as Outreach Partner and KPMG and Nutshell Group were the Knowledge Partners.

The event was also supported by the Pakistan Business Council (PBC), Pakistan Stock Exchange, Special Technology Zones Authority, Pakistan Software Houses Association, KP Board of Investment and Trade, The Centre of Excellence in Responsible Business (PBC), ICMA Pakistan, National Incubation Center, Universal Service Fund, Punjab Board of Investment & Trade, Punjab Information Technology Board, Central Power Purchasing Agency, and the CFA Society Pakistan.

Muhammad Shahid Khan, Head of Business Development, ACCA Pakistan, in his closing remarks thanked all the partners and contributors. He reiterated ACCA’s commitment towards developing sustainable economies and businesses globally.

ACCA is the world's leading body for professional accountants, with more than 241,000 fully qualified members and 542,000 future members worldwide. It uses its unrivalled connections across the globe to connect people with fulfilling careers, organisations with the best finance talent, and economies with the ingredients for growth.