Tell us about yourself. How did you reach where you are?
I am an ACCA and FCMA by profession. I started my career at Grant Thornton Anjum Rehman in 2006 and worked there for 1.5 years. I joined Cherat Packaging Limited in 2009. I left the company in 2023 to join as CFO at Merit Packaging Limited. Fortunately, I have always had great supervisors throughout my career who shaped me into who I am today. I will always be indebted to them.
Current economic conditions are extremely challenging. The finance minister rightly said that increasing exports is the only way to get out of this circle. What is the most important ingredient we have been missing, which halted our exports?
Surely, Pakistan is hit by the worst economic turmoil in its history, and certainly, we cannot survive without increasing exports. I think the main causes of our economic downturn are directly linked to literacy, a lack of an effective startup ecosystem, and economic policy inconsistencies. Unpredictable economic policies keep investors at bay. India’s current economic position is the manifestation of economic and social decisions made back in the 1990s, and there has been an implied agreement between all stakeholders in India. We also need decisions that all stakeholders pledge to carry unequivocally over the years.
Speaking of start-ups, how do you see startups in Pakistan?
The great thing about Pakistan, in particular, and South Asia in general, is that it is a blend of many races producing extraordinary potential. However, this potential could find its way into Pakistan due to a weak startup ecosystem. When this potential ecosystem receives a conducive environment, it blooms. Many economies all over the world grew based on nurturing startups. The concept of venture capitalists is very weak in Pakistan. Recently, the founders of Metric moved to Dubai for a better investor base and a conducive environment for their start-up. While we have seen the demise of Airlift recently. Moreover, I think we need public-private partnerships in the venture capital industry. Further, all factors of ease of doing business, like taxation, compliances, etc., have to be made favorable to nurturing small businesses where startups could be transformed into SMEs and then big corporations.
Any career advice you need to give to new people entering the job market?
Be patient, keep learning, and do not link your performance with the paycheck. I have seen many people, young or experienced, link their performance at a company with their paycheck. They may be correct in their own right, but subpar performance will harm them far more than the company in which they work. Ultimately, the desire to give 100% would fade away, making them more unemployable. So, as I said, give your 100%, not for the company but for yourself, because hard and smart work always pays dividends.
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