ICMA Pakistan is set to host an online session examining how artificial intelligence is changing business processes and what these developments mean for audit professionals. The session, titled around the theme of whether audit professionals are prepared for the next phase of AI-driven business change, will explore AI governance, risk management, internal controls and the evolving responsibilities of internal audit teams. The programme is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, 2026, and will be conducted online through Zoom.
The session will focus on the changes taking place as organizations increasingly incorporate AI into business processes and operational activities. While AI can alter the way companies perform tasks and manage information, its adoption can also introduce new risks, control gaps and governance requirements. The discussion is therefore designed to examine how audit professionals can understand and respond to these changes while considering the controls and oversight structures required when AI is incorporated into business operations.
Muhammad Omair Arfeen, CIA, CISA, CPA, CBA, CFE, SCI and PhD Candidate, will serve as the speaker for the session. Arfeen is a Committee Member and Board Member of the IIA Global Content Advisory and is associated with IIA Qatar. His professional background includes qualifications and experience spanning internal audit, information systems auditing, accounting, fraud examination and related areas, providing a multidisciplinary perspective for a discussion centered on AI-related governance and risk.
The session will be moderated by Muhammad Shoaib, FCMA, ACCA, CIA, CPRM, APFA and Certified Director. Shoaib serves as Chairman of the Audit Assurance and Risk Advisory Board at ICMA. His role in the session will involve moderating the discussion around AI governance, internal controls, risk management and the implications of emerging technologies for the audit profession.
AI adoption is creating new considerations for internal audit functions as organizations introduce automated systems and AI-supported processes into their operations. Audit professionals may need to examine how these systems are governed, how risks are identified and controlled, and whether existing internal control frameworks remain suitable as technology changes business processes. The upcoming session will provide a forum for discussing these issues and examining the role internal audit can play in addressing AI-related governance and risk considerations.
The programme will also address the broader relationship between AI and internal controls. As businesses use AI across different functions, questions around oversight, accountability, risk assessment and control design become increasingly relevant to audit and assurance teams. The session’s focus on governance and risk management places these issues within the wider responsibilities of organizations seeking to incorporate AI while maintaining appropriate control mechanisms.
The event is scheduled to take place from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Pakistan Standard Time on October 17. Participants will join the programme online through Zoom, allowing audit, assurance, risk and governance professionals to attend without being physically present at a venue. The two-hour format will provide dedicated time for discussion of AI-related developments and their implications for the internal audit profession.
The session is positioned as an opportunity for audit professionals and other interested participants to examine the practical challenges emerging from the growing use of AI in business. With Omair Arfeen leading the discussion and Muhammad Shoaib serving as moderator, the programme will bring together perspectives on AI governance, risk management and internal controls while considering how the responsibilities of internal audit may develop as organizations continue to adopt artificial intelligence.
Follow the PakBanker Whatsapp Channel for updates across Pakistan’s banking ecosystem.