The South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) is organising a webinar on October 27, 2026, to discuss the implementation status and progress of environmental, social and governance (ESG) frameworks across public sector entities. The session will bring together accounting professionals, academics and representatives from the business community to examine country perspectives, implementation challenges and the role of ESG practices in strengthening transparency, accountability and sustainable public sector performance.
Titled “ESG Framework for Public Sector Entities: Implementation Status & Progress,” the webinar will focus on how public institutions are adopting ESG principles and the challenges they face in putting these frameworks into practice. ESG considerations cover environmental responsibilities, social outcomes and governance standards. In the public sector, these principles can help organisations assess the wider effects of their policies, improve reporting practices and strengthen accountability for the use of public resources.
The session will feature Mohammed Humayun Kabir, President of SAFA, and Prabin Kumar Jha, Vice President of the organisation. Zia ul Mustafa Awan, Chairman of SAFA’s Public Sector Advisory Committee, will also participate. Their involvement will provide perspectives on professional accounting standards, public sector governance and the development of practices intended to improve institutional performance.
Other speakers include CA Thakur Prasad Adhikari, Managing Partner at TP Adhikari & Associates in Nepal, and Zubaid ul Hassan, Chief Financial and Strategy Officer at Al-tech Prime Group of Engineers & Manufacturers in Pakistan. The programme will also include academic perspectives from Dr. Isuru Manawadu, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Accounting at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in Sri Lanka, and Dr. Md. Salim Uddin, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Accounting at the University of Chittagong in Bangladesh.
The participation of professionals from Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh is expected to bring regional experiences into the discussion. Public sector organisations across countries operate under different institutional arrangements and reporting requirements, making comparisons of implementation progress useful for identifying common barriers and potential approaches. The webinar will provide a platform to discuss these differences while considering how ESG principles can support stronger public financial management and institutional accountability.
Implementing ESG frameworks in public institutions can involve developing appropriate reporting systems, defining responsibilities, improving access to reliable information and ensuring that sustainability objectives are reflected in organisational decisions. Institutions may also need to address gaps in technical expertise, data collection and monitoring processes. Discussing implementation progress can help professional bodies and public sector stakeholders identify areas where additional guidance, training or coordination may be required.
The webinar is scheduled to begin at 4:00 PM Indian Standard Time on October 27, 2026, and will be conducted through Zoom. Interested participants can access the registration or joining link shared by SAFA at https://bit.ly/3TKRH06. The session is intended to encourage professional discussion on ESG adoption and the steps needed to strengthen transparency, accountability and sustainable performance across public sector entities.
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