Corporate heavyweights converge at CEO Summit

Event provides opportunity to network, share experiences

KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan Governor Yaseen Anwar on Thursday said that business leaders could not take informed decisions at the organisational level without first considering external issues that were directly connected with the overall economic condition.

Speaking on ‘visionary leadership’ at the 4th International CEO Summit, Anwar said business leaders face both internal and external challenges which have a direct impact on each other.

He said there was immense potential in the country; adding that the country could become a developed one if the resilient people of Pakistan were steered onto the path by competent leadership. He also referred to the floods and earthquakes in recent years to emphasise that Pakistanis have the ability to overcome crises.

Organised around the theme of ‘Growth in testing times: challenges and opportunities,’ the conference boasted a roster of notable speakers, including Engro Corp Chairman Hussain Dawood, former president Engro Corp Asad Umar, Bank Alfalah President Atif Bajwa, Pakistan State Oil (PSO) Chairman Sohail Wajahat Siddiqui, Habib Metropolitan Bank President Sirajuddin Aziz, Sindh Board of Investment Chairman Muhammad Zubair Motiwala, Askari Bank President M Rafiq Uddin Mehkari, Meezan Bank President Irfan Siddiqui, and IBM Pakistan Country General Manager Adnan Siddiqui. A book titled “100 Business Leaders of Pakistan” was also launched on the occasion.

Addressing the conference, Umar said institutions, not individuals, determined the level of socioeconomic growth in a society. He said people could not take benefit of national resources because of various reasons, including the absence of a professional approach and a deteriorating law and order situation.

Speaking on the occasion, The Manager Today’s President Ijaz Nisar praised the role played by local entrepreneurs. “We have our own Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Laxmi Mittals, who can turn the country around if they are provided with a business-friendly environment.”

The conference also featured several panel discussions: topics included “Entrepreneurship: future of Pakistan,” “Role of visionary leadership in economic growth,” “Developing human capital as strategic investment,” “Corporate governance for growth,” “New economic agenda and business success,” “Developing public–private partnership to boost economic development,” “What does growth mean for: a new enterprise, a family business, and a multinational,” and “The tough questions: growing where? Growing how?”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2012.