ACC - 8th Pakistan leadership conversation: Valuable Takeouts
Melanie Proffitt, President, ACCA
“Businesses today operate in a fundamentally changed global environment. Sustainability is not a compliance exercise; it is a strategic framework that reshapes how value is defined and measured. Accountants are uniquely positioned to integrate environmental and social considerations into financial decision-making, ensuring that growth is resilient, transparent, and long-term. At PLC, it was encouraging to see Pakistan’s business community recognising that sustainable governance is linked to competitiveness.”
Assad Hameed Khan
Head of ACCA Pakistan
“We are no longer preparing for change; we are managing within it. If Pakistan is serious about moving toward a trillion-dollar economy, three forces must align at pace: digital acceleration, credible ESG governance and professional talent development. Execution will determine outcomes. Professional accountants sit at the centre of this transition, translating global standards into national progress.”
Senator Dr. Musadik Malik
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination
“When we speak about green economies, technology and trillions of dollars in investment, we must remember the human reality behind climate change. For countries like Pakistan, floods can erase livelihoods overnight. The global conversation must move beyond rhetoric to fairness, responsibility and meaningful climate action. At the same time, sustainable growth requires investing in people, strengthening SMEs and ensuring a level playing field where opportunity reaches our children, farmers and entrepreneurs – not only a privileged few. That is how Pakistan can build a resilient, inclusive and trillion dollar economy.”
Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh
Federal Minister, Board of Investment
“Pakistan’s path to a trillion-dollar economy lies in unlocking its productive capacity. That requires a shift toward value-added exports, stronger support for SMEs, and a regulatory environment that enables investment rather than constrains it. Government, industry and professionals must work in closer alignment to remove barriers, build export competitiveness and create the conditions for sustained growth. With consistent policy execution and collaboration, Pakistan has the potential to transform its economic trajectory over the coming decade.”
Muhammad Azfar Ahsan
Former Minister of Investment and Chairman, Nutshell Group
“Pakistan’s investment challenge is not a short-term issue but a structural one. For more than three decades, our annual net FDI has averaged around $2 billion, far below what an economy of our size should attract. The core issue is not potential but continuity. Without stable policies, institutional consistency and long-term investment strategy, it is difficult to build investor confidence. Countries that succeed protect existing investors, ensure good governance and maintain policy continuity. Pakistan has immense demographic and geographic advantages, but unlocking that potential requires a clear, long-term economic roadmap.”
Key actions proposed at the 8th PLC
Al & Digital Transformation
Productivity gains depend on governance
Al adoption is accelerating across banking, fintech and capital markets. Speakers stressed that digital transformation cannot be reduced to automation; it must be anchored in structured data, regulatory clarity, and board-level oversight. Without governance, Al amplifies existing inefficiencies. With governance, it enhances credit access, risk modelling, and financial inclusion.
Key actions proposed:
• Establish strong governance mechanisms at board level before scaling Al deployment
• Develop structured, clean data infrastructure as foundational to Al performance
• Create clear regulatory and policy frameworks to guide digital banking and embedded finance
• Embed Al within risk management systems rather than leaving it to IT teams
ESG& Climate Governance
From disclosure to decision
Climate risk is no longer peripheral. It is a balance sheet issue. Panel discussions highlighted that sustainability must move beyond reporting toward integration within capital allocation, risk frameworks, and corporate strategy. Flood exposure, energy volatility and global supply chain pressures are already affecting competitiveness. Investors are reallocating capital toward climate-resilient markets. Pakistan’s green taxonomy and sustainability reporting alignment are steps forward, but credibility will be determined by execution. ESG is now a determinant of access to capital.
Key actions proposed:
• Embed sustainability into core business risk strategy, not standalone ESG reports
• Ensure ESG disclosures inform capital allocation and resilience planning
• Strengthen enforcement of environmental laws and align corporate reporting with SECP ESG guidelines and Pakistan’s Green Taxonomy to improve transparency and measurable outcomes
• Quantify physical and transition risks at both corporate and national levels
Global Capability Centres (GCC)
Beyond cost arbitrage
Pakistan’s talent base presents an opportunity to expand into higher-value global capability centres. However, speakers cautioned that competitive advantage requires more than cost efficiency. Regulatory predictability, digital infrastructure, and governance standards shape investor confidence. While regional peers are attracting significantly higher FDI inflows, Pakistan must align policy clarity with skills development to position itself as a strategic services hub. If backed by reform discipline, GCC growth can drive export diversification, knowledge employment, and deeper integration into global value chains.
Key actions proposed:
• Shift focus from traditional sectors toward higher-value services and technology-driven exports
• Ensure policy continuity to attract GCC and SSON investment
• Improve governance credibility to narrow the FDI gap with regional peers
• Leverage Pakistan’s youth bulge through skills alignment with global markets
ACCA and Pakistan’s GDP ambition
Under various sessions discussing the economy, PLC convened government ministers, regulators, capital markets leaders and c-suite executives to align on growth pathways.
Pakistan’s GDP is approximately $425 billion, with an ambition to reach $1 trillion. Yet annual FDI inflows have averaged around $2 billion over the past decades, trailing regional competitors. Global competitiveness increasingly depends on governance quality, sustainability alignment, and digital capability. Climate vulnerability further raises the cost of inaction.
ACCA’s commitment lies in strengthening the systems that enable growth:
• Developing globally competitive finance professionals
• Enhancing reporting transparency and audit integrity
• Embedding sustainability and digital governance into professional training
• Supporting policy dialogue that aligns standards with global capital expectations
Professional accountancy is not peripheral to economic policy. It is foundational to productivity, investor confidence, and sustainable growth.
ACCA would like to thank the partners, conversation leaders, senior professionals and corporate executives,
ACCA members, hounourable guests and participants for making 8th Pakistan Leadership Conversation (PLC) a huge success.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026