Sidra Iqbal, a journalist and broadcaster for Aaj News, took part as an invited speaker at the 3rd Global Islamic Economy Summit (GIES). This summit was organized by the AlBaraka Forum for Islamic Economy under the leadership of Sheikh Yousef Khalawi and supported by the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey.
The summit gathered a diverse group of policymakers, regulators, central bank governors, investors, scholars, and business leaders from around the world. Notable attendees included President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, and economic leaders from Turkey, Malaysia, Palestine, and other key markets.
Iqbal led a discussion titled “Raising the Quality of Capital: From Follower Counts to Financial Value,” which explored how trust, credibility, expertise, communities, and digital influence are increasingly recognized as strategic forms of capital in a digitally connected economy. The session also examined the growing relevance of the creator economy and trust economy within broader discussions on ethical finance, stewardship, sustainable development, and long-term value creation.
Iqbal emphasized that some of today’s most valuable assets do not exist on traditional balance sheets but are built through trust, credibility, expertise, and communities. She argued that future models of economic value will require a broader understanding of capital—one that incorporates financial assets as well as the relationships, influence, and trust that drive innovation, engagement, and long-term growth. Her participation highlighted Pakistan’s contribution to global conversations on the future of capital and economic development, underscoring the increasing importance of trust and digital value creation in shaping the next generation of economic opportunity.