Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has increased the number of cabinet members to 55 by appointing Bilal Bin Saqib as his special assistant on blockchain and cryptocurrency with the status of a state minister.
This appointment comes weeks after Saqib was named Chief Advisor to the Finance Minister for the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), where he is also the CEO. According to the official press release, Saqib will develop a regulatory framework for digital assets that aligns with FATF guidelines.
His tasks will include launching Bitcoin mining projects and overseeing blockchain use in governance, finance and land record systems.
This development follows the federal governmentโs announcement of allocating 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity for the first phase of a national plan to support Bitcoin mining and AI data centres.
Alongside this, the Ministry of Finance revealed a plan to regulate digital assets and boost Pakistanโs virtual asset economy. The government has supported creating the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA), which will oversee blockchain-based financial infrastructure.
This authority will oversee a $300 billion informal crypto market, support the tokenisation of national assets and debt, and clarify regulations for investors. It will also monetise surplus electricity through regulated Bitcoin mining, encourage innovation, and support youth and startups in blockchain projects.
The Pakistan Crypto Council continues to play a key role in crypto policy and youth engagement. Pakistan has over 50 million crypto users, with annual trading volumes above $300 billion. It ranks among the top five countries for crypto adoption.
Of Pakistan’s 240 million population, 70% are under 30. Pakistan is also the third-largest freelancer market, with over 50,000 IT graduates entering the workforce annually.
Who is Bilal Bin Saqib?
Bilal Bin Saqib is a UK-based entrepreneur, honoured by King Charles III and the late Queen Elizabeth II. In 2023, he received an MBE for leading the One Million Meals campaign during COVID-19.
He holds a Masterโs from LSE in Social Innovation and co-founded Tayaba, which introduced the H2O Wheel to help with Pakistanโs water crisis.
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