Harnessing AI & Sustainability: Insights from ACCA’s Panel Discussions

Today, I had the opportunity to attend an insightful event organized by ACCA Pakistan in Islamabad, focusing on two critical themes: AI-driven financial automation and innovations in sustainability. The sessions brought together industry leaders who shared valuable perspectives on how businesses can adapt to emerging technological and environmental challenges.

Panel Discussion 1: Unlocking the SSO Potential – What's Next?

Moderated by Sadia Khan (Head Shared Services, Bestway Consultancy), this session explored the future of Shared Services & Outsourcing (SSO) and its integration with AI-driven financial frameworks.

Panelists:

? Sheikh Abdul Qadir – Board Member P@sha & CEO, IDRAK AI ? Iftikhar Ahmad Mughal – Partner (Business Advisory Services), PwC ? Faisal Arshad – CFO, Telenor Shared Services ? Ather Imran – CEO, Sybrid Private Limited ? Faheem Piracha – CEO, Hyphen Consultancy

Key Takeaways:

?? AI and automation are revolutionizing finance by streamlining transactional processes and improving efficiency. ?? Predictive analytics is shaping smarter financial decision-making. ?? Compliance and risk management are being enhanced through AI-driven insights.

Panel Discussion 2: From Brown to Green – Innovating in Transition

Moderated by Jahanara Sajjad (Executive Director, Bibojee Group), this session focused on AI, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), and sustainability reporting.

Panelists:

? Taimoor Farid – Director Finance & Strategy, Mobilink Bank ? Navid Goraya – Chief Investment Officer, Karandaaz Pakistan ? Mussarat Jabeen – Executive Director, SECP ? Naghma Tehniat – Governance & Economic Adviser, FCDO ? Zia ul Mustafa Awan – Chairman Strategic Board, ICMA

Key Takeaways:

?? AI is playing a pivotal role in ESG and sustainability reporting, enabling businesses to measure and reduce their carbon footprint. ?? Pakistan’s commitment to Net Zero is pushing organizations to transition toward greener financial practices. ?? ESG frameworks are becoming a business necessity, with regulations and investor expectations driving the shift.

Final Thoughts

The ACCA Pakistan event showcased how AI and sustainability are reshaping the financial and corporate landscape. The discussions emphasized the importance of digital transformation in finance and the growing role of sustainability in business strategies.

A big thank you to ACCA Pakistan and all the panelists for their insights! Exciting times ahead as AI and sustainability continue to drive the future of business.

#Finance #AI #Sustainability #ESG #Automation #ACCAPakistan #BusinessTransformation