The governor further said that priority would be given to employment education, skill development, vocational training and meaningful utilisation of human resources so that Pakistan attains substantial socio-economic growth.
EFP president Majyd Aziz, in his welcome address, quoted the World Bank report 2019-20 that suggests that investment in human capital is fundamental to sustain and progressively enhance economic growth. He urged the government to put in place long term and consistent fiscal, industrial and labour policies to make conducive climate for foreign and domestic investment. He also demanded level playing field for business competitiveness. He asked the government to formulate realistic policies that can promote digital technology, global connectivity and broad based use of artificial intelligence so that these could have a positive impact on youth and women employment and future of work.
During the morning session, eminent global speakers and consultants such as Ronald Thomas from USA and Mir Mehdi Ali from UK dwelt on the 'Future of Human Resource and Digital Human Resource.' Thomas stressed there are key features that HR practitioners must seriously address: future of the workplace, future of the enterprise and the future of how work gets done. He said the HR management is like a lever that propels the enterprise to achieve positive financial results. He termed the Head of the HR division in any enterprise as the "Organisational Architect".
Mir Mehdi Ali said that in his opinion even the HR people in an organisation have the opportunity to create entrepreneurship. He advised the audience that to be a successful HR manager, one should build trust, believe in peer learning and coaching, continuous communication, prudently manage reports and performances, sincerely develop others in the organisations and foster innovation and agility. He said that in the next few years, CPEC may create up to 3 million jobs. He asked whether the HR people in Pakistan are ready to get these jobs filled with trained and skilled workforce.
Umair Jaliawala, a well-known motivational speaker, in his discourse, laid emphasis on the use of artificial intelligence and emotional intelligence as future practical tools in managing and developing people in an enterprise. He said usage of these tools requires a new thinking not only among the workforce and managerial staff but also the Board of Directors.
A panel discussion on 'Impact of Economic Initiatives on HR' was held where four CEOs representing varied sectors participated. They responded to the question of how CPEC would impact the economy of the country. They advised that it is a good sign that the mindset of the government, bureaucracy as well as the private sector is changing towards the new business environment. There is a very serious effort to improve the rating of ease of doing business. The foreign investors are gradually becoming more confident and they have a positive outlook on investing in Pakistan.
The second panel discussion of seven senior HR practitioners focussed on 'Win-Win HR Practices' which they can develop in responding to the business challenges confronting enterprises in the future. Input from them was based personal examples and the efforts they made in their organisations to bring about fundamental changes in the role of human resource with their role as strategic business partners in their enterprises. They emphasised that in every enterprise there should be an institutionalised network to share ideas both innovative and transformational so that an enlightened enterprise environment become a possibility and reality.