Maps
Magazine

TRADE & ECONOMY

PM Shehbaz Sharif Appoints Bilal bin Saqib as Special Assistant on Blockchain & Crypto
PM Shehbaz Appoints Bilal bin Saqib as Special Assistant on Blockchain & Crypto. Pakistan Moves Toward Crypto Regulation & Innovation. Bilal to Lead Policy & Adoption Efforts.
ND
by News Desk
2025-05-26
PM Shehbaz Sharif Appoints Bilal bin Saqib as Special Assistant on Blockchain & Crypto

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has officially appointed Bilal bin Saqib as his Special Assistant on Blockchain and Cryptocurrency with the rank of Minister of State, marking a historic step for Pakistan in the digital economy.

With this decision, Pakistan joins an elite group of countries such as the United States, El Salvador, and the UAE that have designated senior government representatives to oversee blockchain and cryptocurrency affairs.

Bilal bin Saqib currently serves as the CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) and Chief Advisor to the Finance Minister. Under his leadership, the PCC has fostered strategic partnerships with global technology platforms, including a landmark agreement with World Liberty Financial (WLF) — a decentralized finance platform supported by former US President Donald Trump. The partnership aims to drive blockchain innovation and stablecoin adoption in Pakistan.

Additionally, the PCC appointed Changpeng Zhao (CZ), founder of Binance, as a strategic advisor to guide Pakistan’s regulatory frameworks, infrastructure expansion, and educational programs related to crypto.

Bilal bin Saqib holds a Master’s degree in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the London School of Economics. Recognized globally, he has been named in Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 and awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by King Charles III.

As Special Assistant, Bilal’s mandate includes:

·       Developing FATF-compliant regulations for digital assets

·       Initiating Bitcoin mining projects

·       Integrating blockchain across government systems, finance, and land registries

·       Licensing and supervising virtual asset service providers

·       Protecting investors and growing Pakistan’s Web3 ecosystem

Pakistan’s demographic advantage—with 60% of its population under 30—and a robust IT workforce make it uniquely positioned to harness blockchain’s potential. According to China Analysis’s “Global Crypto Adoption Index 2023,” Pakistan ranks among the top 10 countries worldwide in crypto adoption, with nearly 40 million users and over $300 billion in trade volume.

Bilal bin Saqib stated that Pakistan stands at a historic crossroads to lead technological innovation, economic growth, and global competitiveness through blockchain and cryptocurrency.

 
Tagged:

Cryptocurrency

DigitalEconomy

Blockchain

PakistanCrypto
Share News: