Divineguma showcased in Pakistan

Three hundred and fifty key business professionals in Karachi, was hosted by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Regional division for an evening meeting on the theme 'Harnessing the true potential of Pakistan' which was a first of its kind in the Pakistani financial capital Karachi.

The event attracted the key political movers and shakers of Karachi that included the two key political parties of Pakistan who debated the key obstacles faced by the Pakistani Economy.

Rohantha Athukorala

The panel included Asad Umar the Senior Vice President of the Pakistan Tehreek -e-insaaf party who was awarded the Sitra-i-Imtiaz (star of distinction) by the Government of Pakistan in 2010. Business professional and war time Director Economic Affairs of the Government Peace Secretariat, Rohantha Athukorala represented Sri Lanka and shared some key insights on the role of the private sector in fighting terrorism and explained Sri Lanka's experience of becoming a top fifty country globally.

The panel deliberated on the key strategies required in un-leashing the true potential of Pakistan. The top issue on the agenda was the looming power crisis that was reported to have the potential of wiping away almost a billion dollars in exports for the year 2012, whilst the next issue that was highlighted was the 2014 GSP+ trade agreement that was at negotiation stage with EU.

The MoU with China on developing a export oriented industrial village was deliberated next by the team given that many incentives were offered in the budget of 2012/2013 for sprucing business activity.

The Sri Lankan experience shared, highlighted where the country way back in 2009, ranked 79 by the World Economic Forum and climbed to number 63 by 2010 with some sharp strategies by the Sri Lankan private and public sector made the country become a top fifty rating by 2011 with the economy catapulting to a 59 billion dollar economy when in the 1990's it was a mere twenty billion pointed out Athukorala.

This is the impact of peace dividend voiced the Sri Lankan panelist at the forum.

Thereafter, he went into key strategies, the private sector pioneered with the support of the Government.

One key insight was the need to shape ones future when working on a trade agreements rather than just been engaged in trade said Athukorala.

To explain this point he highlighted how the Sri Lankan textile industry had earned the respect of becoming the "Ethical Sourcing destination of the world" with some cutting edge business and industry strategies whilst the tea Industry has taken the high ground globally with a unique private-public partnership where Ceylon Tea taking the position, " The 1st Ozone Friendly Tea" in the world. Athukorala finally explained the role that the private sector had to shoulder in supporting the government in eradicating one of the most ruthless terror organizations in the world.

The Regional Director for South Asian, North America and Middle East of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Bradley Emerson concluded the evening meeting by highlighting the importance of unleashing the real potential of the Pakistan economy and how CIMA will support in providing the human resources required in the area of Management Accountancy. He also emphasized that many such programmes will take form in the near future in the financial capital of Pakistan.