The 6th Pakistan Future of Retail Summit & Expo 2026 is scheduled to take place on November 17 at Pearl-Continental (PC) Hotel in Lahore, bringing together business leaders, retail executives, financial technology professionals and industry stakeholders to discuss developments shaping Pakistan’s retail sector. Organised by the Chainstore Association of Pakistan (CAP) in collaboration with TerraBiz, the full-day event will run from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM and feature discussions on retail regulations, digital payments, organised retail growth, manufacturing collaboration and the industry’s future direction. The summit will provide a platform for representatives from different parts of the retail ecosystem to exchange industry perspectives and examine opportunities and challenges affecting modern retail businesses. Its programme will include contributions from executives, association representatives and business leaders with experience across retail, manufacturing, research and financial technology. The event is also expected to address the relationship between government policies and business operations, particularly as retailers navigate changing consumer preferences, payment methods and regulatory requirements.
A key session at the summit will feature Abdul Sattar Babar, Managing Director of Ipsos, who will present findings from an independent study examining the impact of early closing-time regulations on Pakistan’s retail sector. The research presentation is expected to provide an evidence-based foundation for the government-industry discussion on retail operating hours, regulatory policies and the business environment for organised retail. The session will give participants an opportunity to consider how restrictions on business operating hours affect retailers and the wider sector. Another speaker, Mike Ivanov, Chief Commercial Officer of Yango Fintech, will discuss the relationship between payment flexibility and consumer purchasing decisions. His presentation, titled “Connected Retail: How Pay Later Is Changing the Purchase Decision,” will examine how Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services are influencing online and physical shopping experiences. Using practical merchant examples, industry use cases and data, the discussion will explore how financial services are becoming increasingly integrated into the customer experience and how flexible payment options can influence purchasing decisions at the point of sale.
The summit will also feature Asad Shafi, Chairman of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), Co-Founder of CAP, and Chief Executive Officer of Cross Stitch and KIJI Retail. He will participate in the Manufacturing Retail Collaboration panel, where discussions will focus on strengthening relationships between manufacturers and modern retail businesses. The session will examine supply chain innovation, opportunities for collaboration and emerging growth prospects across the manufacturing and retail value chain. Wasif Sikandar Butt, Chairman of CAP and Director of MARIA.B. DESIGNS (PVT.) LTD., will also join the event as a speaker. He will contribute to the Organised Retail Growth panel, addressing strategies, emerging opportunities, challenges and the factors influencing the expansion of organised retail in Pakistan. His participation will bring perspectives from the fashion and retail industry to discussions about the changing structure of modern retail businesses. Both sessions are expected to provide industry stakeholders with opportunities to discuss operational requirements, business development strategies and ways to strengthen collaboration across different segments of the retail ecosystem.
Further discussions on the future direction of Pakistan’s retail industry will include Asfandyar Farrukh, Co-Founder and Former Chairman of CAP and Managing Director of HUB (Urban Brands). He will speak during the Pakistan Retail Outlook session, sharing perspectives on changing industry dynamics, emerging opportunities, key challenges and the future direction of the country’s retail market. The programme will also feature Rana Tariq M., Patron-in-Chief and Co-Founder of CAP and Chief Executive Officer of Royal Tag, as a speaker in the Retail Regulatory Reform panel. His contribution will focus on the evolving regulatory environment and its implications for businesses operating in Pakistan’s retail sector. The discussion will bring attention to policies, regulatory challenges and emerging trends that could influence the growth and operations of modern retail businesses. With participation from executives representing retail brands, industry associations, financial technology companies and research organisations, the summit will cover several interconnected areas affecting the sector. These include the adoption of flexible payment services, the impact of operating-hour regulations, manufacturing partnerships, organised retail expansion and the role of policy in shaping business conditions. The combination of these discussions is intended to provide participants with a broader understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing Pakistan’s retail industry.
The 6th Pakistan Future of Retail Summit & Expo 2026 will take place on Tuesday, November 17, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM at Pearl-Continental Hotel in Lahore. Organised by CAP and TerraBiz, the event will bring together industry professionals, business leaders, retailers, manufacturers and other stakeholders for discussions on developments affecting the country’s retail landscape. The programme will provide a platform for exchanging ideas on how businesses can respond to changing consumer behaviour, technological developments, regulatory requirements and new financial services. The participation of Ipsos and Yango Fintech representatives will add research and financial technology perspectives, while speakers from retail and manufacturing businesses will contribute practical industry experience. Through its sessions and panel discussions, the summit aims to encourage dialogue between different parts of the retail value chain and examine areas where greater coordination could support business growth. Further information about the event is available through the organisers’ website at www.FutureOfRetail.com.pk.
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