Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appointed Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council, as his Special Assistant on Blockchain and Cryptocurrency. This appointment grants Saqib the status of minister of state and takes effect immediately, though he will serve without salary or official benefits.
The move aligns with Pakistan's recent government initiatives to strengthen its position in the digital asset space. Notably, Pakistan allocated 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity exclusively for Bitcoin (BTC) mining and artificial intelligence centers. Additionally, Pakistan's Ministry of Finance endorsed the creation of the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA) to regulate blockchain-based financial infrastructure, including licensing and oversight of exchanges, custodians, wallets, tokenized platforms, stablecoins, and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.
As Special Assistant, Saqib will focus on drafting Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-compliant crypto regulations, launching state-backed Bitcoin mining projects, and integrating blockchain technology into governance sectors such as land records and finance. He brings significant credentials to this role, including a London School of Economics background and recognition by King Charles III. Notably, Saqib appointed Binance's former CEO Changpeng "CZ" Zhao as an adviser to the Pakistan Crypto Council.
These developments indicate Pakistan's strategic national push to enhance digital asset adoption, regulatory clarity, and blockchain innovation. Previous partnerships, such as the recent agreement with Donald Trump-backed World Liberty Financial to accelerate crypto adoption, reinforce this trend. Experts view these initiatives as a historic "paradigm shift" in balancing technological advancement with national security.
