The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) hosted the ICAP CFO Conference 2026 with the theme “The New Playbook – Adapt, Innovate, Elevate,” gathering finance professionals, business leaders, and policymakers to discuss the evolving role of finance leadership in a complex economic landscape.

Mr. Samiullah Siddiqui, FCA, President ICAP, highlighted the shift of the CFO role from traditional stewardship to strategic leadership in his opening address. The keynote by Mr. Junaid Iqbal, Founder & CEO of Salt Ventures, focused on creating value amid uncertainty.

A panel on Pakistan’s economic outlook featured industry leaders discussing challenges such as taxation and geopolitical volatility, while another session, presented by Mr. Saad Kaliya, examined AI’s role in financial transformation. Dr. Shade Zehrai discussed leadership effectiveness, and discussions on investment capital were led by key executives from the Pakistan Stock Exchange and MCB Funds.

Mr. Muhammad Zaid Kaliya emphasized the responsibility of finance leaders to mentor future professionals in his address, “Elevate More Heroes.”

The conference also included a session on personal resilience, a fireside chat on Pakistan’s potential as a BPO hub, and celebrated the fourth iteration of the Professional Excellence Awards, recognizing outstanding leadership across various fields.