“Ethics is a key enabler of business sustainability, economic growth,” strong consensus among business, thought leaders

Renowned business and thought leaders gathered in Lahore to deliberate on the importance of ethics and trust in accelerating sustainable business growth in the country at an event jointly organised by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), the British Deputy High Commission Karachi, Pakistan Business Council’s Centre of Excellence in Responsible Business (CERB) and CFA Society Pakistan.

The event featured numerous inspirational talks and powerful keynotes, including speeches by Senator Walid Iqbal, Dr. Amjad Saqib, Founder & CEO, Akhuwat Foundation, Paul Smith, CFA, Advisor, CFA Institute, Mike Nithavrianakis, British Deputy High Commissioner Karachi and Director Trade for Pakistan, Sajjad Syed, CEO, Excellence Delivered ExD Pvt Ltd, and Assad Hameed Khan, Head of Markets, ACCA Pakistan.

Speaking at the conference, prominent philanthropist and founder of Akhuwat, Dr Amjad Saqib emphasised that entrepreneurs play a crucial role in every society and business without ethics is simply an insult to public trust and counter to our universal values.

Senator Walid Iqbal delivered a passionate speech, explained the role that the corporate leaders and lawmakers need to play to promote ethical and sustainable business and deal with today’s ethical complexities, and inspired the audiences by connecting the topic with Iqbal’s economic philosophy and teachings.

The event also hosted a thought-provoking panel conversation ‘Ethics & Professionalism in the Workplace – A View from the Industry’ with contributions from Arif Masud Mirza FCCA, Regional Head of Policy, ACCA, Fuad Hashimi, Executive Director, Pakistan Business Council’s Centre of Excellence in Responsible Business (CERB), Fatima Asad Said, Board Member and Chairperson HR Board Committee, Abacus Consulting, Mohammad Shoaib, CFA, Chief Executive Officer, Al Meezan Investment Management Limited, Farid Ahmed Khan, CFA, Chief Executive Officer, FINCA Microfinance Bank Ltd., Jawad Saleem, Chief Financial Officer, Outfitters Stores, and Javaria Malik, Director Marketing and Communications, ICMA Pakistan.

The event in Lahore marked the end of annual celebrations of Global Ethics Day in Pakistan jointly convened by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), the British Deputy High Commission Karachi, Pakistan Business Council’s Centre of Excellence in Responsible Business (CERB) and CFA Society Pakistan.

Previously, ACCA with other partners, held successful corporate conferences in Karachi and Islamabad exploring the role of ethics in today’s world of increasing automation and digitisation with participation from corporate leaders, prominent policy makers and influential thought leaders.

Global Ethics Day is an annual, international day dedicated to exploring the role of ethics in today’s world. Founded by the Carnegie Council, organisations are encouraged to hold programmes focusing on ethics, such as lectures, film screenings, debates, panel discussions, or activities to protect the environment.