Islamabad – The Nutshell Group will host the 9th edition of the Leaders in Islamabad Business Summit (LIIBS) 2026 on Thursday, September 17, at the Islamabad Serena Hotel. This year’s summit, themed “The Next Move,” will bring together federal ministers, global institutional leaders, and Pakistan’s leading corporate executives for a day of high-level dialogue on the country’s economic, technological, and geopolitical direction. The event will bring business leaders, investors, globally renowned economists, technology experts, and industry stakeholders together, along with policymakers, creating opportunities for collaboration, innovation, investment, and sustainable economic development across Pakistan’s evolving business landscape.
From Uncertainty to Action: The NutShell Group Defining Pakistan’s Next Move
Building on the momentum of LIIBS 2025, themed “Navigating the Unknown,” this year’s edition shifts the conversation from uncertainty towards action, examining Pakistan’s next strategic, economic, and technological moves as well as the stakeholders who will shape them.
Ministers Take the Stage
The summit will open with the inaugural session, “The Next Move: Reading the Moment,” featuring ministerial addresses by Bilal Azhar Kayani, Minister of State for Finance and Railways; Muhammad Ali, Federal Minister and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation; and Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue. The session will also feature a keynote address by Lucia Real Martin, Executive Director, Relationships, ACCA.
Five Strategic Dialogues
The day will feature five strategic dialogues, beginning with “Geopolitics, Geoeconomics & Pakistan,” bringing together Simon Andrews, Regional Director, International Finance Corporation; Dr. Samuel Rizk, Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan; Andrew Bailey, Managing Director, BASF Pakistan; Maheen Rahman, CEO, InfraZamin Pakistan; and Dr. Ayesha K. Khan, Regional Managing Director, Acumen.
Business, Technology & the New Competitive Landscape
The next session, “Business, Technology & the New Competitive Landscape,” will feature Serkan Ozturk, Chief of Staff and Strategy Officer, VEON Group; Saira Awan Malik, President, TCS Holdings; Irfan Wahab Khan, Chairman, easypaisa Digital Bank; Fatima Asad-Said, CEO, ABACUS; and Kabir Naqvi, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Abhi Group.
AI, Digital Transformation & Economic Value
Another session, “AI, Digital Transformation & Economic Value,” will bring together Saqib Sabah, Managing Director, Growth Market Units, SAP; Mujeeb Zahur, Managing Director, S&P Global Pakistan; Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary, President and CEO, Mobilink Bank; Muntaqa Peracha, MD and CEO, foodpanda; and Tariq Rashid, Global Telco Growth Leader, Systems Limited.
Capital, Finance & The Confidence Economy
The session on “Capital, Finance & The Confidence Economy” will feature Javed Kureishi, CEO, Pakistan Business Council; Dr. Amjad Waheed, CEO, NBP Funds; Muhammad Hamayun Sajjad, CEO, Mashreq Pakistan; Muhammad Shoaib, CEO and Co-Founder, Lucky Investments Ltd.; Imtiaz Gadar, CEO, Al Meezan Investment Management; Umair Aijaz, CEO, Raqami Islamic Digital Bank; and Sajjeed Aslam, Partner, Sustainadility, USA.
Pakistan’s Moment of Choice
The event will conclude with “Pakistan’s Moment of Choice,” featuring Senator Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan (2023–24); Senator Dr. Musadik Malik, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination; Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, Pakistan’s Chief of Air Staff (2015–2018); Ziad Bashir, Chairman, Pakistan Business Council; Aamir Ibrahim, CEO, JazzWorld; and Fahd Husain, Executive Director, The Express Tribune. The official LIIBS programme also lists Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman as Chief Executive Strategic Engagements at Nutshell Group.
Key Partners
LIIBS 2026 is supported by Coca-Cola Pakistan, with ABACUS and Systems serving as Technology Partners; S&P Global as Research Partner; ACCA as Knowledge Partner; Sustainadility as Sustainability Partner; Serena Hotels as Hospitality Partner; and VCAST as Outreach Partner. Other partners include ABHI Microfinance Bank, Interloop, Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC), PARCO, PTCL Group, Faysal Bank Ltd., BankIslami Pakistan Ltd., Mobilink Bank, Mashreq, NBP Funds, Al Meezan Investment Management Ltd., Lucky Investments, PharmEvo, Bank AL Habib Ltd., Askari Bank Ltd., Meezan Bank, Raqami Islamic Digital Bank, TCS, and Hilton Pharma.
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