Leadership, governance crisis hurting growth

LCCI dialogue stresses modern practices and consistent policy implementation

LAHORE:

A "Leadership & Growth Dialogue" was held at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), bringing together senior business leaders, corporate executives and policy thinkers to discuss leadership challenges, economic performance and the roadmap for sustainable growth in Pakistan.

Addressing the gathering, LCCI President Faheemur Rehman Saigol said that true leadership is rare and never accidental. He emphasised that patience, tolerance, courtesy and consistency are the most important qualities of leadership, which have gradually diminished in society.

Saigol said that leadership is developed over decades through sacrifice, struggle and continuous learning, and its true value lies in transmitting experience to future generations. He stressed that seminars like this help transform knowledge into guidance for young leaders, who will shape society.

Highlighting tolerance as the highest standard of leadership, he cited the example of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), whose patience and forgiveness serve as an eternal model for humanity. He urged senior professionals to guide the younger generation on developing resilience and long-term vision.

Saarc Chamber Vice President and former FPCCI and LCCI president Mian Anjum Nisar said Pakistan is facing a serious leadership and governance crisis, which has caused the country to lag behind other nations over the past 78 years. He said policies were formulated but not implemented, resulting in missed opportunities.

He pointed out that state-owned enterprises are incurring annual losses of around Rs750 billion and described nationalisation as a major policy mistake. He added that delays in the privatisation of PIA caused prolonged losses, expressing hope that the recent decision would bring improvement through better leadership and capital.

Anjum Nisar also highlighted poor governance, conflict of interest, flawed free trade agreements, high electricity tariffs and the prolonged energy crisis as major obstacles to growth. He stressed the need to place the right people in the right positions and said leadership means taking collective responsibility, using "we" instead of "I," and sharing knowledge as a form of ongoing charity.

KFC Pakistan Chief Operating Officer Humayun Sajid said that leadership styles must evolve with time. He said that early in his career, he followed a control-driven approach focused solely on results, but later realised that such leadership is not sustainable.