Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appointed Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), as his special assistant on blockchain and cryptocurrency. He will serve with the status of a minister of state, according to a press release issued today.
Bilal’s responsibilities will include creating a regulatory framework for digital assets that complies with FATF guidelines, spearheading Bitcoin mining projects, and integrating blockchain technology into public systems such as finance, land records, and governance. He will also oversee the licensing and regulation of virtual asset service providers (VASPs), promote investor protection, and support the growth of the Web3 ecosystem in Pakistan.
This move follows the Finance Ministry’s earlier announcement about forming a National Crypto Council, aligning Pakistan’s digital policies with global developments in cryptocurrency.
Bilal Bin Saqib, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, is also the cofounder of Tayaba, a social enterprise focused on tackling Pakistan’s water crisis. He was awarded an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in 2023 for his contributions to the UK’s National Health Service.
The government emphasized that Pakistan is embracing a progressive digital transformation, similar to how the U.S. appointed David Sacks to lead AI and crypto initiatives. With over 40 million crypto users, a $300 billion trading volume, and producing 40,000 IT graduates annually, Pakistan is positioning itself as a global digital player.
According to Saqib, “Pakistan’s demographic and digital advantages offer a rare chance to leap into the future — with blockchain and crypto poised to drive economic innovation and global competitiveness.”
