ISLAMABAD: ACCA actively works on a broad range of capacity-building projects to strengthen accountancy and finance literacy as well as the infrastructure in Pakistan and in this regard conducted two workshops for journalists in Lahore and Islamabad. Committed to delivering public value, ACCA has a sound understanding that finance journalists are engaged in ‘public interest’ reporting in the same way that political journalists are and therefore conducted a workshop on, ‘Business and Finance Reporting for Journalists.’ Journalists from prominent media outlets participated in this workshop where ACCA provided specialist training that is needed by journalists for accurate financial reporting. MENASA Regional Head of Policy Arif Masud Mirza conducted the workshop and said, “Accountancy is a profession that works to the very highest standards and improves the societies where it is present. We invest in development programmes to keep our stakeholders on top of their game and this workshop is our way of delivering value to society. We always strive to demonstrate thought leadership in education, training and ethics.” The chief guest at the event in Islamabad, PEMRA Chairman Absar Alam commented, “Finance and business journalists are expected to have a strong ethical approach towards their role and in this regard it is important that they are well equipped in analyzing current economic trends as well as interpreting financial statements so that they can see the wider picture and assume their ‘watchdog’ role in relation to the economy and corporate health.” The Nation Editor Salim Bukhari, who was the chief guest at the Lahore workshop, said, “Finance journalists have to work cautiously to uphold public interest and ACCA’s capacity building initiatives will assist them in being ethical and professional in their role and it should also continue in the future.” Published in Daily Times, November 3rd 2017. Published in Daily Times, November 3rd 2017.