The 6th Edition of The Future Summit kicked off with a full house at a local hotel in Karachi. The event opened with a welcome address by the Founder and CEO, Nutshell Group, Muhammad Azfar Ahsan. He insisted that platforms like TFS are to build the pressure on the concerned stakeholders to be united for the sake of Pakistan. He further added that our foreign policy should be based on the economic interests of the country. The inauguration session had an impressive lineup of corporate leadership and state governance with Nadir Salar Qureishi, Chief Investment Officer, Engro Corp, Aamir Ibrahim, President and CEO, Jazz and Chairman Mobilink Microfinance Bank, Muhammad Aurangzeb, President and CEO, HBL, Jimmy Nguyen, CEO, Blockchain for All, and William Bao Bean, General Partner, SOSV, and Managing Director, Orbit Startups.

Federal Minister for Climate Change, Sherry Rehman, was the guest of honor, and her address focused on the dire need for corporate and business to make ESG an integral part of their vision for future.

Addressing the audience, she further stated that by 2030, Pakistan is going to be one of the worst-hit countries in the world due to prevailing wave of climate crisis.

Pakistan is severely impacted by the floods, which has displaced nearly 30 million citizens, along with an enormous financial cost and a huge dent to the national economy.

Muhammad Aurangzeb, CEO and President, Habib Bank Limited, and Pakistan Banks Association, insisted on the need for financial support to the Agri-zone and ensure the prosperity of the farmer for a prosperous Pakistan.

He elaborated that the business model in Pakistan needs to be changed with stakeholders such as chambers of commerce, while the associations and banks should devise a long-term strategy through collaboration with or without the government. He stated that the World Bank has forecasted that the economy of Pakistan will increase to USD 3 trillion by 2047 from USD 300 billion. Pakistan needs consistency in policies to achieve economic growth in future. 

Aamir Ibrahim, CEO and President, JAZZ, and Chairman Mobilink Microfinance Bank, said that the telecom is not merely a sector, but it is an enabler to many sectors and a facilitator of the economic growth. Data is the new fuel in today’s digital transformation and that 4G for all is the answer to the problem. Pakistan does not need to focus on 5G for now.

With the successful conversion to Islamic instruments, sustainability and resilience are crucial to ensure success and optimum outreach. “An organization must have a purpose-driven plan. It is not just a profitability factor but a social responsibility for effective leadership,” said the President & CEO, Faysal Bank Limited, Yousaf Husain.

To offer employment to generation-Z and generation alpha, we need to cater to their needs and offer customized employment plans, he further added. He said that the rollout of management trainee program is necessary to deploy the younger lot and cater to their needs.

Jimmy Nguyen enthralled the audience with the digital Blockhain presentation on how the AI is replacing the traditional modes and methods.

William Bao Bean, General Partner, SOSV and Managing Director, Orbit Startups, reinforced the potential of Pakistan as one of the best in the region, and committed to continuing his work in enabling startups for best economic growth. “Our company in Pakistan turned from USD 0 to 1.4 million in one year only.”

The following sessions alternated between keynote addresses and panel discussions. Many global speakers contributed immensely to insightful discussions.

Leadership roles for new economic realities were explored by the esteemed panelists including Yousaf Hussain President & CEO Faysal Bank Limited, Shazad Dada, President & CEO United Bank Limited, Amir Paracha, Chairman and CEO Unilever Pakistan Limited, Zeeshan Sheikh, Country Manager Pakistan & Afghanistan, International Finance Corporation, and Maheen Rahman, CEO InfraZamin Pakistan. The session was moderated by Farrukh Khan, CEO & Managing Director Pakistan Stock Exchange.

Keynote addresses by Adam Weinstein, Research Fellow, Quincy Institute for Responsible State Craft, Syed Moonis Abdullah Alvi, CEO K-Electric Limited and Naim Zamindar Founder Neem and Former Minister of State, followed highlighting geoeconomic reset, support for private owned companies and innovation and growth respectively.

Moonis Alvi, CEO K-Electric said that Pakistan has to shift towards indigenous sources of power production in the future. Hence, its works are underway to convert 30 % alternative energy for Karachi by 2030.

“We must ensure that the next generation is transitioned to indigenous fuel as it is not in our interest to buy expensive fuel, for which all partners must contribute,” he said. Before the summer of 2023, KE will have 900 megawatts of electricity available by the way of billions of rupees investment, he further stated.

Saeed Mohammed Alhebsi, Advisor in AI, Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization, UAE, Dana Al Salem, Global Tech Entrepreneur, Investor & Innovation Expert, in conversation with Sajeed Aslam highlighted the need for purpose-driven work in the areas of disruption, sustainability, and resilience.

The panel discussion on Digital Transformation included Asif Peer, Chief Executive Officer, Systems Limited; Dr. Shahid Mahmud, Chairman & CEO, Interactive Group of Companies; Ammara Masood, Chief Executive Officer, NdcTech; Mujeeb Zahur, Managing Director, S&P Global. It was moderated by Saquib Ahmad, Country Managing Director, SAP Pakistan.

The day concluded with another insightful panel discussion moderated by Fatima Asad Said, CEO Abacus Consulting Technology Limited, with Adil Farhat, Chief Executive Officer, Procter & Gamble Pakistan; Ahmed Khan Bozai, Managing Director & City Country Officer, Citibank; Naz Khan, Principal Country Officer, International Finance Corporation Pakistan; Javed Ghulam Mohammad, Group Managing Director & CEO, Martin Dow Group; Steve Lee, Regional Head of Employer Relations & Market Development, Asia Pacific, ACCA; and Paul Keijzer, Co-Founder & CEO, The Talent Games and Founder & CEO, Engage Consulting. The participants highlighted the need for evolved leadership and the new now with perfection not being a destination anymore as change is constant, and requires agility, collaboration and scalability for impact.