ACCA Opens Pakistan Leadership Conversation 2026 in Lahore, spotlighting action on sustainability, innovation and economic delivery
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) today opened the eighth edition of the Pakistan Leadership Conversation (PLC) 2026 in Lahore, convening senior government leaders, regulators and business executives to advance practical solutions for sustainable growth in a rapidly changing global environment.
The Lahore conference, held at the PC Hotel Lahore, marks the first stop of ACCA’s flagship national leadership platform, which this year focuses on turning ambition into measurable impact across business, government and society.
Setting out the global context for the conversations, Melanie Proffitt, President of ACCA, highlighted the critical role of finance and accountancy professionals in shaping resilient and responsible growth.
“Pakistan’s ability to compete and grow in a transformed global economy will depend on how effectively organisations connect sustainability, technology and skills,” said Melanie Proffitt. “Finance and accountancy professionals are central to this transition, not only as stewards of trust and governance, but as strategic partners helping businesses innovate responsibly, manage risk and create long-term value. Platforms like the PLC are vital in turning global insight into local action.”
Opening the conference, Assad Hameed Khan, Head of ACCA Pakistan, said PLC has evolved into a platform that challenges leaders to move beyond dialogue.
“This year’s Pakistan Leadership Conversation is firmly focused on delivery,” said Assad Hameed Khan. “As economic volatility, climate risk and technological disruption converge, leaders must act with clarity and purpose. Impact today is defined by how effectively organisations translate strategy into action and collaborate across sectors to create long-term value.”
The Lahore agenda featured a keynote by Muhammad Saad Yusufi CFO, Coca-Cola Pakistan & Afghanistan Region, followed by a senior-level dialogue on financial and sustainability reporting working together moderated by Faiza Khan, CFO, Red Bull Pakistan and panellists were Ayesha Aziz, Group Manager Sustainability, Packages Group, Fauzia Safdar Khan, Director Sustainability & Climate, Crowe Hussain Chaudhury & Co, Nazifa Butt, Director Climate Action & Sustainability, WWF-Pakistan, Sajjeed Aslam, Partner, SpectrEco and Zehra Aneek, Director Sustainability Consulting, EY, highlighting the growing importance of integrated data, governance and assurance in decision-making.
Subsequent sessions examined AI, data and competitive advantage, reinforcing how finance and accountancy professionals are increasingly enabling innovation, strengthening trust and supporting resilient business models across sectors, followed by another dialogue on from back office to global capability centre: opportunities and challenges, moderated by Nauman Liaqat, Senior Adviser, UNDP Pakistan and the panellists were Inam Kakra, Audit Partner, KPMG, Zaigham Rasool, Partner, A.F. Ferguson & Co. (PwC Pakistan) and Zeeshan Umer, Partner, AARO Middle East, highlighting Pakistan’s potential to transition from low-end BPO services to high-value Global Capability Centres (GCCs), driven by a cost-effective, tech-savvy workforce and increasing foreign investment.
PLC 2026 aligns with ACCA’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s economic development and advancing priorities linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including decent work and economic growth, climate action and strong institutions.
The Pakistan Leadership Conversation continues in Karachi on 21 January and concludes in Islamabad on 22 January, bringing together leaders from across the public and private sectors to further explore how Pakistan can build sustainable, inclusive and future-ready growth.