In a landmark move, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appointed Bilal Bin Saqib as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Blockchain and Crypto, granting him the status of Minister of State. This strategic appointment places Pakistan among an exclusive group of 7 to 9 countries, including the United States, El Salvador, and the United Arab Emirates, that have designated high-level leadership for cryptocurrency and blockchain policy.
As the Chief Executive Officer of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) and Chief Advisor to the Finance Minister, Bilal Bin Saqib has already played a pivotal role in shaping Pakistan’s blockchain roadmap. Under his leadership, the PCC forged a groundbreaking partnership with World Liberty Financial (WLF) — a decentralized finance platform backed by former U.S. President Donald Trump — to drive blockchain innovation and stablecoin adoption in Pakistan.
Further strengthening Pakistan’s crypto ecosystem, Saqib invited Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the founder of Binance, to join the PCC as Strategic Advisor. CZ’s role will focus on guiding regulatory development, infrastructure growth, and public education initiatives related to cryptocurrency in Pakistan.
An alumnus of the London School of Economics (LSE) with a Master’s in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Saqib has earned global recognition. He was featured in Forbes Asia’s 30 Under 30 for his contributions to social impact and was recently honoured with an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by King Charles III.
As SAPM, Bilal Bin Saqib’s responsibilities will include:
- Developing a comprehensive, FATF-compliant regulatory framework for digital assets
- Launching Bitcoin mining and blockchain infrastructure initiatives
- Driving blockchain integration across governance, financial systems, and land records
- Facilitating licensing and oversight of Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs)
- Championing Web3 innovation, investor protection, and digital literacy in crypto
This appointment reflects Pakistan’s forward-thinking approach to emerging technologies and signals a deepening commitment to align with global digital trends. Just as the U.S. appointed leaders like David Sacks to shape AI and crypto strategy, Pakistan is empowering dynamic youth leadership to guide its digital transformation.
Pakistan at a Digital Crossroads
Pakistan is uniquely positioned to become a major player in the blockchain economy. According to the 2023 Chainalysis Global Crypto Adoption Index, the country ranks among the top 10 nations globally for crypto adoption, with:
- Over 40 million crypto users
- Annual crypto trading volume exceeding $300 billion
- Around 40,000 IT graduates produced annually
- The 4th largest freelancer market in the world
- A youth-dominated population, with over 60% under age 30
These factors combine to create an ideal environment for blockchain-driven growth, innovation, and global competitiveness.
A National Imperative
“Pakistan’s unique demographic and digital landscape offers an unprecedented opportunity to leapfrog into the future of technology — where blockchain and crypto will drive economic growth, innovation, and global competitiveness,” said Saqib.
With this appointment, Pakistan signals its readiness to not only participate in the global digital economy — but to lead it.
