Tell us about yourself, how you reached there:
Tech, innovation, and education evangelist, I began my professional career at Citibank and was part of the pioneering team for consumer banking in Pakistan.
How do you see technology changing our lives?
Technology has transformed nearly every aspect of modern life. Some of the most significant ways it has changed our lives are connectivity and communication, productivity and efficiency, automation, entertainment and leisure, and the transformation of industries.
What are your best accomplishments?
To provide rural electrification to over 70,000 off-grid and underserved households. This retail distribution model of financing became a case study for IFC’s ‘Lighting Pakistan’ program.
What is disruption for you?
Convenience, access to things, changing people’s lives.
What is the future of e-commerce you see in Pakistan?
It is still at a nascent stage, an untapped market as the 5th most populous country, reaching a revenue of US$6.4 billion and growing annually at 6.23 percent. The industry faces a significant challenge in consumer trust in our country.
What is your vision and goal?
The vision is to work with those dedicated to improving people’s lives, and the goal is to do so through innovative products and services.
How can we become a digital country?
Without the internet as a foundation, the digitization of the country would have been significantly slower. Digital Pakistan is the name of the game. The government should lead this by digitizing everything they do, and the private sector should follow. Every government department should be connected digitally on a single platform.
What inspires you?
To do something for our country, rather than asking what your country can do for you—an old saying from John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address.
How do you see the industry-academia gap?
We offer job-centric education; it should be self-employed-centric education. We should have incubators/accelerators in every university to capitalize on the different skill sets of various demographics/rich cultures our country and people have to offer.
How do you see startups in Pakistan?
To create jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities for the young, energetic, unemployed youth of our country, joining fintech, e-commerce, health tech, edtech, and agritech presents exciting opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors alike.
What steps should the government take to make the country digital?
The government can support the digitization drive by creating awareness of it, and a digital transition in every government department.
Does ERP implementation come into digitizing?
Yes, it helps any organization proceed with digitization.
Why do businesses fail in the early stage in Pakistan?
Due to a few reasons, including lack of adequate funding and resources to sustain operations.
What steps should be taken in the e-commerce industry?
Build customer trust in systems and processes.
Are you satisfied with the current e-commerce policy?
The government should regulate the e-commerce sector for the benefit of the public at large. The policy tends to facilitate freelance service providers and existing e-commerce businesses and encourages entities involved in traditional commerce to venture into e-commerce, thereby improving prospects of productivity, generating new employment opportunities, and enhancing levels of consumer protection.
What is the future of online selling in Pakistan?
We need to shift our focus from urban cities to rural and remote areas for expansion and, at the same time, source cost-effective products and services with quality assurance.
What was your strategy during COVID-19?
As they say, ‘never let a good crisis go to waste.’ We reshaped our strategy according to market dynamics.
What is the future of fintech in Pakistan?
With the advent of game-changing technologies and with still millions of unbanked and underbanked individuals, fintech has vast potential. The launch of the RAAST program by the SBP will most likely create a digital railroad for other players in the market. I think digital payments and digital loans will lead the fintech industry.
How can we make people financially literate or enabled?
Surrounding oneself with financially literate individuals or joining financial communities can significantly enhance one’s understanding.
How are we handling cybersecurity issues in Pakistan?
The National Cyber Security Policy – 2021, is a policy guideline that provides a comprehensive framework for ensuring cybersecurity in Pakistan. With a clear roadmap and responsibilities of various government and private sector stakeholders, including the PTA, to ensure cybersecurity in the country.
What are the security risks we have in Pakistan, both business and individual?
Cyber-attacks and digital scams have become more frequent, sophisticated, and costly, affecting both businesses and individuals.
How can the government help SMEs to strengthen?
The government plays a crucial role in small and medium-sized enterprises boosting performance and economic growth because they create jobs and economic activities in the country. Tax incentives, access to low-cost financial aids, and ease of doing business are essential.
Why don’t we prefer local vendors in software and ERP?
Non-standard delivery, companies are smaller than the global players, and scalability is an issue if the business grows for standardization.
What is the future of cloud computing in Pakistan?
This will evolve over time since it is no longer just a platform; it will eventually become a tool to enhance business innovation.
How do you see freelancing in Pakistan, and why is it restricted to IT only?
It’s good for a side hustle until you polish your skills and focus on full-time work. This perception that freelancing is for IT only is incorrect; people in rural areas have been freelancing for ages in different industries. For example, in clothing, all the major fashion brands in the Pakistani clothing industry are dependent on freelancers, and we have different hubs in Bahawalpur, Thar. IT freelancing is the new buzzword.
Why are we dependent on government policies?
We are dependent because it’s the government’s job to make policies for economic growth and regulate the dos and don’ts for any business.
How has CxO Forum benefited you, and what change have you seen after joining?
Learning is the main thing, apart from networking with like-minded people to drive collaboration and create long-term partnerships.
Do you think collaboration is the key for small businesses?
Yes, collaboration in anything, like resources, marketing, platforms, and market access, is key.
What are the top 5 things you think we are behind on compared to the rest of the world?
- Law and order
- Digitization
- Ease of doing business
- Political stability
- Economic stability
What are the best 5 things you think we are better at than other countries?
- Country with the 5th largest population.
- Branchless banking
- Young population: 64% of the total population of 240 million is below the age of 30, while 29% is between the ages of 15-29 years.
- Passionate about our food.
- Pakistan has all 4 seasons to live and work in.
How do you see the youth of Pakistan?
The latest trend among the youth of Pakistan appears to be a growing interest in social and environmental activism. In recent years, young Pakistanis have been increasingly vocal about issues like climate change, women’s rights, and government transparency. Many have organized and participated in public protests and online campaigns to raise awareness and advocate for change on these important topics.
Are you satisfied with the current educational system? What changes do you suggest?
The government must enhance the quality of education in rural areas as the private sector won’t play here as it is uneconomical. The government needs to take the role of the policy-making body and let the private sector drive the education system across the country and complete this transition in the next 5-10 years. Most of the brightest students in the country are produced by private educational institutes.
What are the major steps the government should take in the fintech industry?
- Ease of doing business
- Access to VC/funds
- Lower tax or tax breaks
How can fintech ease an individual in Pakistan? Are we ready for it?
Yes, we have seen this fintech revolution in e-commerce and the branchless banking industry, and how beneficial they are for individuals and society as a whole.
Is an individual in Pakistan paying income tax? How difficult is the process?
Technology advancement can play a role here. In my opinion, paying taxes is not the issue; the utilization of collected taxes is the real issue.
What is the importance of data for businesses?
Businesses are now hiring data scientists for market analysis, business strategy, new products, and to understand what works and what does not in terms of consumer behavior. Data is very important.
How can data make an impact on the growth of businesses?
Data helps companies predict trends, identify opportunities, and stay ahead of their competition by providing them with insights into consumer patterns.
How can we use data and information for growth and better performance?
Data allows organizations to more effectively determine the cause of problems, so they can rectify them. It also allows organizations to measure the effectiveness of a given strategy. When strategies are put into place to overcome a challenge, collecting data will allow you to determine how well your solution is performing, and whether or not your approach needs to be tweaked or changed over the long term.
How can we make Pakistan a better country?
My perspective of Pakistan, as someone who was born and raised here, is so nationalistic that I find Pakistan without flaws. Governance is something we need to work on because, in civilized societies, political parties are supposed to provide viable leadership to people and resolve critical issues.
How can we increase jobs?
Entrepreneurship has long been recognized as a fundamental driver of economic growth and prosperity. One of the most significant and often underappreciated benefits of entrepreneurship is its profound role in creating jobs.
Why is our new talent not aligned with the current job scenario?
The opportunities are there, but skills and experience are lacking. To succeed in a job interview, it’s important to demonstrate not only current qualifications but also interpersonal skills and the ability to fit into the company’s environment and culture.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
- Listening to music
- Reading
What makes you excited about Mondays?
On a lighter note, Monday is for the people who took a day off on Sunday; I’m all up for work. However, just for the sake of work-life balance, I look forward to it as a bright new week—like a mini New Year’s… most of the time.
What is your biggest regret in life?
No regrets.
How do you empower others?
Delegating tasks; I’m a believer in resource development/people development.
How do you solve problems?
Define the root cause of the problem, then research other ways to solve it.
How do you manage anger?
Music, art, traveling.
What was your first salary?
Rs. 2500 (It was an internship at IBM Pakistan).
What is the best thing about you that you think everybody should know?
I believe in teamwork and am always learning.
What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?
My responsibilities in life.
Can you tell me about a time when you almost gave up, how you felt about that, and what you did instead of giving up?
It was when I had a road accident, and I was practically bedridden for a year and almost gave up. The process inspires me—from bed to wheelchair, to walker, to stick, and again on my feet. I told myself to give everything in life a try once again; people are dependent on me. I stood for them.
Are you the smartest person you know?
Oops, I’m around the smartest people I know.
What is your dream job?
To serve Pakistan in whatever capacity.
Tell us about your failures.
Failures are an opportunity to sit back, relax, evolve, and start all over again. I can’t find anything that can cure cancer.
What is your favorite quote?
“To Live & Let Live.”
How would you make money from an ice cream stand?
It’s not about ice cream for me; it’s about ‘My Sales Pitch, Product Features, and Benefits.’
What was your best trip?
My father worked for Pakistan Air Force and later for PIA, so I always got the opportunity to travel. However, whenever I travel with my family and friends, it’s special. In the recent past, I went to Skardu with colleagues; we all enjoyed it a lot. It was one of the most memorable trips of my life.
How has CxO Forum impacted your life?
Leadership and learning opportunities inspire me about CxO Forum.
How do you manage difficult situations?
As Muslims, we believe that difficulties come by Allah’s will, and we should face them with patience and be thankful for all the good things in life.
What things do you not like to do?
Things that appear to be in my comfort zone.
Tell me about a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career.
- Achieving the ‘National Innovation Award’ for the best microinsurance product.
- Delivering a credit card in a single day to our corporate customer, which is nearly impossible, and I received the ‘Service Excellence Award’ as well as a cash prize for that. The award is recognized at a regional level in Citibank.
What is the future of Marketing & Sales as per the changing dynamics?
Technology will lead sales and marketing; everything is now digital. If someone wants to be relevant in this field, they should digitize the end-to-end process.
What are the new ways of making & generating sales?
If someone wants to be successful in sales, cold calling is always the best way to do sales, check strike rates, and develop a pipeline.
How important is Sales for the organization?
Without sales, there is no revenue.
What are the new dynamics of Customer Experience?
In the 21st century, customers are still king, but not anymore with technology—if you have better products and services, customers will pay the premium price.
How important is the Audit of an Organization, and how can it help structure & provide value?
Audit is a vital function to keep the organization aligned with established goals. It’s for those who don’t believe in self-assessment because sometimes back-office jobs don’t align with the overall business objectives, business model, and risks.
What is an internal audit, and how effective is it?
Internal audit adds significant value to organizations by enhancing governance, improving operational efficiency, and mitigating risks.
What is the importance & role of Corporate Governance?
Governance is the key to projecting the business to the outside world.
What are Employee & Industrial Relations?
Employee relations are about reinforcing the ties between the employer and employees and making the company a better place to work.
How important is it for an organization to have an HR System & Compliance?
An organization cannot work and flourish without HR compliance, which means ensuring your company policies and actions adhere to local labor laws in the country.
Is it good to provide compensation & benefits in an organization?
Effective compensation & benefits are very important in driving employee satisfaction, retention, and overall business success. Top performers only work for additional benefits.
How important is performance management in an organization and for an individual?
Effective performance management is essential to businesses. Through both formal and informal processes, it provides an opportunity to measure employee performance and develop meritocracy in the organization.
What is Talent Development?
This should be the role of every team manager and team leader: to develop talent in line with the company’s goals and objectives and to align resources with the company’s mission and vision.
