Aaj News journalist and broadcaster Sidra Iqbal participated as an invited speaker at the 3rd Global Islamic Economy Summit (GIES), one of the most influential international platforms examining the future of capital, Islamic finance, economic development and sustainable growth.

Convened by the AlBaraka Forum for Islamic Economy under the leadership of Sheikh Yousef Khalawi and held with the support of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkiye, the summit brought together an influential gathering of policymakers, regulators, central bank governors, investors, scholars and business leaders from across the world.

The summit featured participation from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, central bank governors, senior policymakers and economic leaders from Turkiye, Malaysia, Palestine and other key markets, reflecting the growing international importance of the forum as a platform for shaping conversations around the future of economic development.

Against this backdrop, Sidra Iqbal led a featured discussion titled “Raising the Quality of Capital: From Follower Counts to Financial Value,” examining how trust, credibility, expertise, communities and digital influence are increasingly being recognised as strategic forms of capital in a digitally connected economy.

The session explored the growing relevance of the creator economy and trust economy and considered how these developments intersect with broader conversations around ethical finance, stewardship, sustainable development and long-term value creation.

The inclusion of a discussion on digital influence, trust and creator-led value creation alongside conversations on finance, capital markets and economic development reflected a growing recognition that future economies will increasingly be shaped by both financial and intangible forms of capital.

Speaking during the discussion, Sidra Iqbal noted that some of the most valuable assets being created today 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 not only financial assets, but also the relationships, influence and trust that drive innovation, engagement and long-term growth.

As host of Aaj News’ flagship daytime television show, Aaj Pakistan, Sidra Iqbal has spent the last seven years facilitating conversations on economic development, governance, leadership and future-facing trends.

Her participation also highlighted Pakistan’s contribution to emerging global conversations on the future of capital and economic development, while underscoring the increasing importance of trust and digital value creation in shaping the next generation of economic opportunity.