Karachi, January 27, 2026 — The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) hosted the Grand Finale of the National Finance Olympiad (NFO) 2025, bringing together finance professionals, industry leaders, academics, and students from across the country to showcase analytical excellence and strategic thinking in real-world business scenarios.
Organised under the auspices of ICAP’s Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Committee, the flagship competition aims to strengthen leadership, decision-making, and commercial acumen among finance professionals operating in increasingly complex business environments.
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Opening the event, Mr. Samiullah Siddiqui, Chairman PAIB Committee and Vice President ICAP, said the National Finance Olympiad has become a key platform for developing future-ready finance leaders. He emphasised that initiatives like NFO play a vital role in equipping professionals with strategic insight and the ability to navigate competitive and fast-evolving markets.
In his address, ICAP President Mr. Saif Ullah highlighted the expanding role of finance professionals in corporate governance, sustainability, and national economic development, reaffirming ICAP’s commitment to promoting professional excellence and leadership aligned with future business needs.
This year’s Grand Finale featured Mr. Irfan Siddiqui, Founding Partner and former CEO and President of Meezan Bank Limited, as chief guest. He praised platforms like the National Finance Olympiad for enabling talent to engage with real business challenges through strategic insight, effective storytelling, and competitive problem-solving.
Mr. Abdul Rahim Abbasi, Head of Corporate Finance at Unilever Pakistan, also addressed participants, underscoring the importance of industry-led initiatives in bridging professional knowledge with practical business application and fostering commercially astute finance leadership.
Since its inception, the National Finance Olympiad has served as a premier forum for finance professionals to demonstrate technical competence and strategic judgment. This year’s edition attracted 40 teams, including 31 from Karachi, five from Lahore, three from Islamabad, and one overseas team from Saudi Arabia. Following two competitive rounds, six teams advanced to the Grand Finale.
The finalist teams—HUBCO Green (Private) Limited, Careem, K-Electric, Systems Limited (∞) BAT, Alpha Analysts, and Sui Southern Gas Company Limited—earned their place through strong analytical performance and strategic depth.
A highlight of the finale was the Board Room Challenge, where teams presented solutions to complex business problems in a simulated executive environment. The competition was evaluated by a distinguished jury comprising Mr. Muhammad Faisal, CEO of Lucky Motors; Mr. Bilal Khan, General Manager at Pakistan Oilfields Limited; and Dr. Huma Baqai, Rector of Millennium Institute of Technology and Entrepreneurship.
The Grand Finale also featured multiple competitive segments designed to test participants’ financial acumen, presentation skills, and strategic agility. These included a rapid 100-second challenge and the interactive “Spin the Wheel” segment, which required teams to make high-stakes decisions across varied business categories.
ICAP acknowledged the support of its technical partners BDO Ebrahim & Co. and EY Ford Rhodes, along with knowledge partner Karachi School of Business & Leadership, for their contributions to the successful conduct of the Olympiad.
After a closely contested finale, Alpha Analysts emerged as champions of the National Finance Olympiad 2025, securing the coveted trophy. K-Electric and Careem were declared first and second runners-up, respectively.
The event concluded with the presentation of mementos, a group photograph, and a dinner reception. Over the past decade, the National Finance Olympiad has continued to inspire finance professionals to lead with confidence, adapt to evolving challenges, and compete on both national and global stages.
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