Pakistan and ACCA explore cooperation in workforce development, digital transformation, IT services, and improved financing opportunities for SMEs.
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb met Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Global Executive Director Ms. Lucia Real-Martin on Thursday to explore areas of cooperation aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s economic capacity.
The meeting was attended by senior representatives of ACCA Pakistan and focused on human resource development, expansion of IT and IT-enabled services, and support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Both sides discussed ways to align professional capacity building with the government’s broader economic reform agenda.
During the meeting, Senator Aurangzeb highlighted Pakistan’s significant potential in the information technology and IT-enabled services sector. He emphasized the need to improve digital infrastructure, particularly through the wider availability of high-speed 5G connectivity.
The Finance Minister also stressed the importance of developing skills in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and blockchain. He said targeted upskilling and reskilling could help Pakistan’s shared service centres move beyond routine transactional work and provide more sophisticated, knowledge-based services to international markets.
Aurangzeb further noted that talent export and retaining skilled professionals within Pakistan should be pursued together. According to him, both approaches can help create a stronger workforce capable of meeting the requirements of domestic businesses as well as global employers.
The ACCA delegation briefed the government on its international programmes and engagement with Pakistani public-sector institutions. The organization is working to support improvements in public financial management and the modernization of fiscal systems.
Ms. Real-Martin reaffirmed ACCA’s willingness to assist Pakistan in digitizing fiscal frameworks. She particularly highlighted the transition from traditional cash-based accounting to accrual-based systems, which can improve transparency, financial reporting, and tax administration.
The discussion also covered ways to improve the financial readiness and bankability of SMEs. ACCA proposed fractional Chief Financial Officer (CFO) services, enabling smaller businesses to access professional financial expertise without bearing the cost of employing full-time senior executives.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to long-term cooperation in professional development, digital transformation, SME support, and broader economic reforms in Pakistan.