Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar received Jean Bouquot, President of International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) on Friday and welcomed him to Pakistan.

He underscored the critical role of the accountancy profession in strengthening financial governance and transparency, and in equipping Pakistan to meet modern challenges, including AI-driven transformation.

The DPM/FM appreciated the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) and highlighted ongoing cooperation with IFAC to enhance audit quality, support SMEs, and strengthen ethics and sustainability reporting.

He emphasised the importance of preparing Pakistani professionals for emerging global standards and technological shifts through deeper collaboration with IFAC.

Meanwhile the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister and Chairman Steering Committee, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired the 49th meeting of the SDGs Achievement Programme (SAP) to review and decide key matters relating to the initiative.

He emphasized the importance of engaging local communities to identify priority infrastructure schemes and ensuring that SAP funds are utilized effectively for the benefit of the people of Pakistan.

The meeting was attended by the Ministers for Planning, IPC, Religious Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs, SAPM, Secretary Cabinet, Secretary HRD, and representatives from provincial governments.