In Lahore on May 18, 2023, on Thursday at a local hotel in Lahore, the CFO Conference 2023, with the theme “Resilient CFO – Balancing the Agenda for Tomorrow,” was organized by the Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP).

The important role that chief financial officers (CFOs) play in guiding organizations through trying times while successfully managing long-term strategic initiatives was emphasized by Mr. M. Ali Latif, President of ICAP.

The conference’s goals, vision, and the substantial contributions ICAP has made to Pakistan’s finance and economic sector were highlighted by Mr. Samiullah Siddiqui, Chairman PAIBC and Council Member, of ICAP. He emphasized the significance of the conference and its immediate relevance to experts in the business and financial disciplines, setting the stage for an occasion that offered beneficial information.

Industry leaders participated in the conference’s opening panel discussion, “Skill-sets for Tomorrow,” which was moderated by Dr. Ijaz A. Qureshi, the pro vice chancellor of IAC Lahore, and included Mr. Nadeem Khan, CFO of PTCL, Mr. Irfan Awan, CFO & Executive VP of the Bank of Khyber, Ms. Khursheed Kotwal, Council Member of ICAP, and Mr. Awan. The panelists emphasized the significance of education and adjusting to the digital age, focusing on operational effectiveness, alternative data representation techniques, the function of CAs in the public sector, continuous upskilling, staying abreast of trends, embracing technology, and forming cooperative relationships.

During a Tech-station segment, Mr. Saquib Ahmad, the country managing director for SAP, talked about the value of organizational transformation for efficiency and cost-cutting. He emphasized how chatGPT and other technologies are being used all around the world to streamline company operations.

Aftab Butt, CEO of KAPCO, Ms. Ammara S. Gondal, Chairperson of NRC ICAP, and Mr. Mohsin Naqvi, Group Director Finance of Kohinoor Maple Leaf Group, presented an interesting debate titled “80/20 Dialogue – Balancing Act of Optimisation.” The panelists provided deep insights and shared their vast expertise in accomplishing multi-objective management in engineering projects, which includes lowering costs, improving quality, and cutting project cycles, during the conversation.

Syed Tanveer Saleem, Group Executive at Meezan Bank, Roohi Khan, Group CFO at Systems Limited, Malik Salman Hafeez, CEO of Apparel Vertical at US Denim, and Mustafa Yaqoob, Regional CFO at Lipton Teas & Infusions were the special guests on the panel discussion titled “Opportunities Beyond Uncertainties”. They emphasized the urgent requirement for a thorough overhaul of our country’s political structure. Moving forward, it is essential for every segment of society to faithfully carry out their duties and maximize the potential of important components to promote progress.

The captivating Fireside Chat, titled “The Call of Duty,” took a deep dive into the intricate and diverse challenges that businesses face in today’s ever-changing landscape. The panelists shed light on the multifaceted hurdles posed by volatile energy and oil prices, the intensifying competition from smaller economies, the disruptive impact of online banking, the concerning phenomenon of knowledge brain drain, and the pervasive risks associated with technology advancements. The discussion was enriched by the valuable contributions of the panelists, including Mr. Ashfaq Yousuf Tola, Minister of State & Former President ICAP; Mr. Ali Khizar, Head of Research at Business Recorder; Dr. Hassan Daud, Associate Professor at Bahria University Islamabad; Mr. Bilal Anwer, CEO of NDRMF; and Mr. Zeeshan Ijaz, Council Member at ICAP.

Mr. Asad Feroze, Vice President of ICAP, provided a captivating summary of the conference in Lahore and shared the insightful information covered by the presenters. The meeting, which drew a sizable audience, turned out to be quite interesting and educational.

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