Pioneering change

Successfully scaling the career ladder at Zeenat Printing and Dyeing Mills (Zeenat) to the CFO position in 2016, Muhammad Ali Khan has spearheaded a digital transformation at the Pakistan textile printing company.

‘The modern globalised world is adopting and advocating green growth and an eco-friendly environment, so I decided to do my part, especially for my organisation,’ Khan says. ‘I am responsible for procurement in the company and started looking for new technologies.’

It was an endeavour that resulted in the introduction of digital fabric printers at the business, which is based in the city of Gujranwala in north-east Pakistan. The new technology has shrunk the company’s environmental footprint – and its utility bills – by slashing its water and energy consumption and eliminating the use of water-polluting dyes.

The use of more efficient, environmentally friendly digital printers marked a significant departure for Zeenat, which had been using traditional printing machines for years to produce huge reams of printed textiles but which required extensive inputs of water and energy. Khan explains: ‘Heating and gas are scarce resources and not cost-effective. Traditional textile printing machines use dyes that can impact the water system and the environment. I ended up sourcing an Italian supplier to get the most eco-friendly print machines in the world.’

Pitch perfect

Khan’s search led him to Italian supplier EFI Reggiani Textile Printers.  He then put together a feasibility report and made a pitch to his CEO. The management team was won over, and the first of the new printers was installed in 2017.

The results were so outstanding that Zeenat subsequently installed four more digital printers, which have had a significant impact in reducing energy consumption and boosting production. Zeenat can now produce about 150,000 metres of fabric a day compared to 40,000 before the digital printers were installed.  Electricity bills have dived from over US$500 to around US$270 a day despite the significant increases in production, while water and gas consumption have also fallen.

The new printers underpinned a fundamental digital transformation for the company and as a result, Zeenat has become a digital printing pioneer in Gujranwala. That technology shift also highlights a process that finance professionals, like Khan, have an important role in driving forward.

Personal journey

During his years at Zeenat, Khan has held different roles within finance and made it an important part of his professional growth to understand virtually every job within the company. He started out as a finance manager, then moved on to handle accounts, then procurement, finally taking over the role of CFO.

‘With every role I had the opportunity to learn; I really enjoy working in finance because it boosts my confidence. Staying busy with financial planning helps the company grow,’ he says.

Khan believes his ACCA Qualification along with his experience in a variety of roles, have provided him with tools that make it easier to respond to challenges in the company, and he welcomes challenges. ‘In my life dictionary, the word “challenge” means “welcome”, so whenever I face a challenge, I always welcome it,’ he says.

‘Challenges are good because they not only allow you to move forward but also prepare you for better achievements. Alongside finance and accounting, we must work on our environmental impact and also create a user-friendly business. Without those, we cannot provide quality products to our clients.’

Through a combination of his work at Zeenat and his connections with the ACCA community in Pakistan, Khan has found opportunities to learn new skills through webinars and online learning to build his pool of experience.

‘I always feel proud of the ACCA Qualification. It has not only helped me in my career but also gives me respect and always puts me in a strong position.

As a youth, Khan, used to read his brother’s accounting books and manuals for fun. That voracious reading eventually led him into his own career in accounting and finance as well as an active role with ACCA in his native Pakistan.

His older brother, who works at an accounting firm in Dubai and is also an active member of ACCA, inspired Khan to pursue a career in finance. He studied applied accounting at Oxford Brookes University and became an ACCA member in 2021. Joining Zeenat in 2013, he moved into the C-suite three years later – the launchpad for bringing textile printing up-to-date.

For Khan, digital transformation has meant taking a leadership role not only in modernising the company and its production, but also in automating financial tasks.

'Digital solutions help me handle repetitive tasks across the organisation and that frees up time to focus on creative solutions, complex problem-solving and impactful work that results in increased productivity, job satisfaction and higher company profitability,’ Khan says. ‘Technology helps me work faster, more precisely and effectively.’

Giving back

In addition to his role at Zeenat, Khan is the FD of Future Brighteners, a provider of legal and financial services with offices in the US and the UAE as well as Pakistan. The company is managed by his father, Aftab Ahmed Khan, a high court lawyer with 40 years of experience in multinational companies. Khan explains that as a business advisor, his father worked with Zeenat for over a year in bringing about change and helped with the legal aspects of installing the digital printers.

Khan has also become an ACCA advocate; he explains that his ACCA journey has shaped him as an accounting professional. 'By being an ACCA member, you gain confidence in your skills and knowledge, and are able to help companies thrive and take their business to the next level.'

He also mentors younger ACCA members to share his expertise and experience. 'I enjoy sharing my experiences with members and advise them in achieving their goals and ambitions.'

He believes young professionals are key for the profession in Pakistan to continue evolving. ‘Newcomers bring change to the profession by putting to use their energy, extensive analytical skills, complex problem-solving skills, active learning and critical reasoning,’ he says.

In 2021, he participated in ACCA’s council elections. 'It was my first time standing for election to ACCA Council and although I wasn't elected, I was pleased with the outcome. My aim is to facilitate and help members and one way to do that is by being an ACCA Council member.'

Accepting the ACCA Approved Employer Certificate from ACCA Pakistan in March this year was a highlight for Khan, along with recognition of his efforts in supporting the next generation of accounting professionals. 'My company doors are always open for ACCA students, affiliates and members,' he says.

'My ambition is to develop ACCA professionals at Zeenat, to give them a pitch to play, learn and implement their skills and education in a real-time experience.'