My decision to become an accountant was not a long-held dream; it was more of a slow realisation of how central the profession is to the world of business. I started noticing how conversations about business often involved money, so I saw that understanding finance was key to understanding pretty much everything else. My interest in accounting grew into a passion, which motivated me to make it my career.
I began my working life at EY, where I developed a solid foundation in audit and assurance and got to work for a variety of clients across different industries. However, desiring a diverse career, I moved to SPARS Group, a privately owned Pakistan conglomerate across aviation, telecommunication and real estate. My first role at SPARS was in internal audit but I later moved to finance and accounting, which led to a series of progressive roles before I joined my current employer, Shaigan Pharmaceuticals.
Working on a flood-relief project helped me see things from a different perspective
Through my accounting career, I have had the opportunity to learn so many new things. What I find most enjoyable now is contributing to smart business decisions. It is rewarding to know my insights directly influence strategic choices, providing leaders with the information needed for confident action.
Pakistan’s pharmaceutical sector must navigate a complex landscape. It is facing many challenges such as intricate regulatory processes, the need for stringent quality control, limited R&D investment, and economic pressures impacting production costs. However, significant opportunities also exist, due to a burgeoning domestic market fuelled by population growth and increasing healthcare awareness, which is driving demand. Furthermore, the potential to expand our exports, particularly of generic drugs, to developing nations offers a pathway to growth.
My comfort zone was truly tested when I volunteered under my company’s corporate social responsibility scheme as a manager on a flood-relief project in the city of Tank, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, northern Pakistan. We completed 100 homes for flood-affected people in just 30 days, despite challenges in terms of facilities and personnel security. It took dedication and perseverance, but the experience was an opportunity to see things from a different perspective and address problems in unorthodox ways.
Dedication and perseverance are key to realising my aspirations
My favourite phrase is a verse from the Qur‘an: ‘There is nothing for man except what he strives for’. This resonates with universal themes of hard work and personal responsibility. For me, it encourages a goal-oriented life, where dedication and perseverance are key to realising my aspirations and empowering me to shape my destiny through my actions.
My ACCA membership stands as my proudest accomplishment. Professionally speaking, leading various system implementations, including SAP, ranks high among my achievements.
If I had law-making powers I would like to change the taxation laws of Pakistan. I would make them more equitable towards the salaried middle class, which pays more taxes proportionate to their income than the business elites. I would introduce a system of taxation where wealth is taxed instead of earnings, similar to the system of zakat, which requires a percentage of wealth to be donated to charity.
If I were not an accountant, I would have pursued a career in physics, as the creation and the vastness of the universe has always fascinated me.
In my spare time, I like to read. My favourite book is The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene, which explores the dynamics of power and human influence. I also like to watch Netflix, and my favourite shows are sci-fi, especially Star Trek: The Next Generation.
