Pakistan(National Times)- RAWALPINDI: In a high-level meeting at General Headquarters (GHQ), Pakistan\u2019s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, met Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC). The two discussed the future of the country\u2019s digital economy, with a core focus on empowering the youth through blockchain, cryptocurrency, and artificial intelligence. The meeting underscored a growing national commitment to emerging technologies as a pathway for economic resilience and global relevance. Central to the discussion was the belief that Pakistan\u2019s youth must be at the heart of this transformation. \u201cThe Pakistan Crypto Council exists because our youth demand a seat at the global tech table,\u201d said Saqib. \u201cWe are building for a generation that sees digital finance, decentralisation, and AI not as threats\u2014but as opportunities to lead, innovate, and uplift the nation.\u201d Saqib shared key updates on PCC\u2019s progress, including the visit of the delegation of World Liberty Financial and Founder of Binance, Changpeng Zhao, regulatory consultations, international collaboration, and youth-focused approach to create a digitally skilled and globally competitive generation.\u00a0 He outlined a forward-looking roadmap that aims to accelerate innovation and unlock widespread opportunity in Pakistan\u2019s growing digital financial ecosystem. In a key development aligned with these efforts, the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday unveiled a comprehensive strategy to regulate digital assets and accelerate the growth of Pakistan\u2019s virtual asset economy.\u00a0 As part of this initiative, the government has endorsed the creation of a dedicated body \u2014 the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA) \u2014 tasked with overseeing blockchain-based financial infrastructure, according to an official statement released by the Ministry. Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb stated: \u201cPakistan stands at the threshold of a digital transformation. With the establishment of the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA), we are committed to creating a secure, innovative, and inclusive ecosystem for virtual assets.”\u00a0 “Our vision is to position Pakistan as a regional leader in blockchain regulation, digital finance, and responsible innovation that empowers our youth and attracts global investment,\u201d he added. The PDAA is expected to regulate a $300 billion informal crypto market, facilitate the tokenisation of national assets and government debt, provide legal clarity to global and local investors, and enable monetisation of Pakistan\u2019s surplus electricity through regulated Bitcoin mining.\u00a0 Additionally, the authority aims to promote best practices for innovation, ensure economic inclusion, and empower youth and startups to build blockchain-based solutions at scale. As part of the broader national strategy, Pakistan also plans to allocate part of its surplus electricity to Bitcoin mining and AI data centres, positioning itself as a regional hub for digital infrastructure. This engagement comes just ahead of Saqib\u2019s departure for the Bitcoin 2025 Conference in Las Vegas, where he will speak on stage alongside global leaders in cryptocurrency, blockchain infrastructure, and AI.\u00a0 The event is set to feature high-profile participants including US Vice President JD Vance, Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr, Bo Hines, Executive Director of the Presidential Council of Advisers on Digital Assets; David Sacks, The White House AI and Crypto Czar; Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of MicroStrategy; Senator Cynthia Lummis, US Senate; and Bryan Steil, Member of Congress, US House of Representatives. \u201cWith the support of national leadership, we are now moving decisively,\u201d Saqib said. \u201cPakistan\u2019s youth are not just future participants\u2014they are today\u2019s drivers of change. Our mission is to give them the tools, education, and platforms to lead globally,\u201d he added. The Pakistan Crypto Council continues to operate as a national force for crypto policy, innovation, youth empowerment, and international engagement in crypto and blockchain. Pakistan is home to over 50 million crypto users, with an annual trading volume exceeding $300 billion. The country consistently ranks in the top 5 globally for crypto adoption, reflecting its strong grassroots engagement with digital assets. Out of a population of 240 million, 70% of Pakistanis are under the age of 30.\u00a0 Pakistan boasts a highly favourable demographic for widespread crypto adoption, making it one of the most promising emerging markets for blockchain and digital finance innovation. Pakistan is also the third-largest freelancer market in the world, showcasing its dynamic and entrepreneurial digital workforce.\u00a0 Each year, over 50,000 IT graduates enter the workforce, adding to the country\u2019s growing pool of tech-savvy youth ready to drive innovation and participate in the global digital economy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Pakistan(National Times)- RAWALPINDI: In a high-level meeting at General Headquarters (GHQ), Pakistan\u2019s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, met Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC). The two discussed the future of the country\u2019s digital economy, with a core focus on empowering the youth through blockchain, cryptocurrency, and artificial intelligence. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":104936,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-104935","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n