Lahore: The Executive Development Institute (EDI) of the National School of Public Policy (NSPP), Lahore, conducted its fifth three-day Directors’ Training Programme (DTP) for State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) from August 19 to 21, 2026.
The training programme, approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), was attended by 21 participants from across the country, including civil officers from federal and provincial governments and executives from the private sector.
Representatives from various prominent ministries, departments and organizations participated in the programme, including the Ministry of Industries and Production, SECP, Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, Pakistan Airports Authority, NESPAK, PASSCO, Northern Power Generation Company Limited, WAPDA, Water and Sanitation Services Company Haripur, Punjab Mineral Company, Punjab Police, Universal Service Fund, Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Center and Lahore Development Authority.
Rector NSPP Farhan Aziz Khawja welcomed the participants and highlighted the objectives of the Directors’ Training Programme, saying it aimed to strengthen corporate governance in Pakistan through the facilities of NSPP and the specialized courses offered by EDI.
He said the programme would help set a new benchmark in governance training with the support of SECP and urged participants to uphold transparency and accountability in their respective organizations.
Dean EDI Dr Naveed Elahi introduced the DTP-SOEs programme, which focuses on strengthening governance and performance of state-owned enterprises through effective leadership. He said the programme covered legal responsibilities, board effectiveness, risk management and ethical governance through case studies and simulations.
He emphasized the importance of organizational culture, values, strategic thinking and integrity, while encouraging participants to actively benefit from expert faculty and professional networking opportunities.
The training sessions were conducted by a distinguished group of speakers, including former SECP Commissioner Abdul Rehman Warraich, former Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr Ishrat Hussain, Military Accountant General Kashif Ahmad Noor, Rector NSPP/DG CSA Farhan Aziz Khawaja, IBA Karachi Director Dr Irum Saba, retired Federal Additional Secretary Finance Division Muhammad Anwar Sheikh, former DG NIPA Quetta Mairaj A. Ariff, Dean-SST UMT Lahore Dr Kashif Zafar, SNGPL Company Secretary Imtiaz Mahmood, former Governor State Bank of Pakistan and ex-SAPM on Finance Tariq Bajwa, and Competition Commission of Pakistan Member Salman Amin.
The programme covered a wide range of subjects, including principles of corporate governance, SOE reforms and legal frameworks, the role of government in SOE stewardship, directors’ selection and performance review, external audit, internal controls and audit committees, organizational culture in public and private sector companies, Islamic finance and financial risk governance.
Other areas included public service obligations and competitive neutrality, business-plan development, cybersecurity risks and countermeasures, digitization in the public sector, SOE reporting and disclosure, board composition and structure, as well as board simulations and case studies.
In his closing remarks, Rector NSPP appreciated the participants for their active engagement and valuable contributions throughout the three-day programme. He also commended Dean EDI and his team for successfully organizing the training.
The participants actively participated in question-and-answer sessions and demonstrated keen interest in the various topics discussed during the programme.
At the conclusion, Rector NSPP Farhan Aziz Khawja, along with Dean EDI Dr Naveed Elahi, distributed certificates among the participants.
