27-5-2025 – Pakistan has taken a significant step to cement its place in the global cryptocurrency landscape. On Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Bilal Bin Saqib as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Blockchain and Cryptocurrency, a move that echoes the United States’ proactive engagement with digital assets. This appointment signals Pakistan’s ambition to harness blockchain technology to bolster its economy, create jobs, and attract international investment.
Bilal Bin Saqib, a distinguished graduate of the London School of Economics, is no stranger to accolades. Recognised in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and honoured with an MBE from King Charles III for his contributions to social impact, Saqib brings a wealth of expertise to his new role. As the Chief Executive Officer of the Pakistan Crypto Council and Chief Advisor to the Finance Minister, he is well-positioned to steer the nation towards a crypto-friendly future.
Pakistan’s push into digital finance comes at a critical juncture. With foreign direct investment plummeting by 45% in February compared to the previous year, as reported by Pakistan Today, the government is eager to explore innovative avenues for economic growth. A key component of this strategy involves allocating 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity to power bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence data centres. This initiative, spearheaded by the Pakistan Crypto Council, aims to transform excess energy into a source of revenue and high-tech employment opportunities.
The appointment of Saqib coincides with Pakistan’s efforts to forge international partnerships in the blockchain space. In April, the Pakistan Crypto Council secured a memorandum of understanding with World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency venture linked to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s family. The agreement, signed during a visit by World Liberty co-founder Zach Witkoff, paves the way for potential use of the firm’s stablecoin in Pakistan for trade and remittances, a development that could streamline cross-border transactions. Saqib, who took on an advisory role with World Liberty Financial in April, has been instrumental in fostering these ties.
Further bolstering Pakistan’s crypto ambitions is the involvement of Changpeng Zhao, the former CEO of Binance, who joined the Pakistan Crypto Council as an advisor in early April. Zhao’s appointment came shortly after he completed a four-month prison sentence in the United States for breaches of anti-money laundering regulations. While Zhao has been linked to facilitating introductions for World Liberty Financial’s international engagements, he has refuted claims made by The Wall Street Journal, dismissing them as inaccurate.
However, Pakistan’s enthusiastic embrace of cryptocurrency is not without its challenges. The nation’s pivot towards digital assets follows a period of economic strain, prompting scrutiny of its motives. Earlier this year, Pakistan engaged a U.S. lobbyist to secure high-level meetings in Washington, where the interior minister reportedly sought increased American investment, according to The Wall Street Journal. The subsequent partnership with World Liberty Financial has raised questions about the intersection of economic policy and geopolitical strategy.
As Pakistan positions itself as a hub for blockchain innovation, Saqib’s leadership will be pivotal. His mandate includes crafting a regulatory framework compliant with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), launching state-backed bitcoin mining projects, and integrating blockchain into governance systems, such as land records and financial management. With a youthful population—over 60% of whom are under 30—and a robust pool of 40,000 IT graduates annually, Pakistan is poised to capitalise on its demographic and technological strengths.
This strategic move places Pakistan among a select group of nations, including the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and El Salvador, that have elevated blockchain and cryptocurrency to a ministerial level.
