ISLAMABAD: The Nutshell Group will host the 9th edition of the Leaders in Islamabad Business Summit (LIIBS) 2026 on Thursday, September 17, at a local hotel in Islamabad, bringing together federal ministers, global institutional leaders and Pakistan’s leading corporate executives for high-level discussions on the country’s economic, technological and geopolitical direction.
This year’s summit is themed “The Next Move”, shifting the conversation from uncertainty toward action and focusing on Pakistan’s strategic, economic and technological choices and the forces shaping its next phase of development.
Building on the momentum of LIIBS 2025, themed “Navigating the Unknown,” the 2026 edition will feature an inaugural session titled “The Next Move: Reading the Moment.” The session will include 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 & Revenue, alongside a keynote by Lucia Real Martin, Global Executive Director, ACCA.
The summit will feature five strategic dialogues covering some of the key issues shaping Pakistan’s business and economic landscape.
The session on “Geopolitics, Geoeconomics & Pakistan” will bring 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.
A second dialogue, “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.
The summit will also examine the growing role of artificial intelligence and digital technologies through “AI, Digital Transformation & Economic Value.” Speakers include Saqib Sabah, Managing Director Growth Market Units, SAP; Mujeeb Zahur, Managing Director, S&P Global Pakistan; Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary, President & CEO, Mobilink Bank; Muntaqa Peracha, MD & CEO, foodpanda; and Tariq Rashid, Global Telco Growth Leader, Systems Limited.
The dialogue 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 & 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.
The summit 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 & Environmental Coordination; Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, Chief of Air Staff (2015–2018); Ziad Bashir, Chairman, Pakistan Business Council; Aamir Ibrahim, CEO, JazzWorld; and Fahd Hussain, Executive Director, The Express Tribune.
LIIBS 2026 is supported by Coca-Cola Pakistan, with ABACUS and Systems 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 participating partners include ABHI Microfinance Bank, Interloop, Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC), PARCO, PTCL Group, Faysal Bank, BankIslami Pakistan, Mobilink Bank, Mashreq, NBP Funds, Al Meezan Investment Management, Lucky Investments, PharmEvo, Bank AL Habib, Askari Bank, Meezan Bank, Raqami Islamic Digital Bank, TCS and Hilton Pharma.
The 9th edition of LIIBS is expected to provide a platform for policymakers, business leaders and international stakeholders to exchange perspectives on Pakistan’s evolving economic, technological and geopolitical landscape.
