PM Appoints Bilal Bin Saqib as Special Assistant on Blockchain and Crypto

Islamabad – September 2025:In a landmark decision reflecting Pakistan’s growing commitment to emerging technologies, Prime Minister has appointedBilal Bin Saqibas theSpecial Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Blockchain and Crypto, granting him thestatus of Minister of State. With this strategic appointment, Pakistan joins an exclusive group of nations—including the United States, El Salvador, and the United Arab Emirates—that have appointed dedicated national leadership for blockchain and cryptocurrency initiatives. Bilal Bin Saqib currently serves as theChief Executive Officer of thePakistan Crypto Council (PCC)and asChief Advisor to the Finance Minister. In these roles, he has led efforts to bridge Pakistan with key global technology stakeholders. Under his leadership, the PCC signed alandmark partnership with World Liberty Financial (WLF)—a decentralized finance platform backed by former U.S. President Donald Trump—to accelerate blockchain innovation and stablecoin adoption in Pakistan. He also brought global crypto leaderChangpeng Zhao (CZ), founder of Binance, on board asStrategic Advisor to the PCC, aiming to support regulatory development, infrastructure enhancement, and crypto education initiatives across the country. As SAPM on Blockchain and Crypto, Bilal Bin Saqib will be responsible for: Developing acomprehensive, FATF-compliant regulatory frameworkfordigital assets, LaunchingBitcoin mininginitiatives, Overseeingblockchain integrationacross governance, finance, and land records, Facilitatinglicensing and oversight of Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), Championinginvestor protectionand nurturing a robustWeb3 ecosystemin Pakistan. An alumnus of theLondon School of Economics (LSE)with a Master’s in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Bilal has earned global recognition for his work. He was featured inForbes Asia 30 Under 30for his impact in the social sector and was recently honored with the prestigiousMBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire)byKing Charles III. Bilal’s appointment underscores Pakistan’s intent to harness its youthful, digitally savvy population to leapfrog into a tech-driven future. The move echoes global trends, such as the United States appointingDavid Sacksas theWhite House AI and Crypto Czar under President Trump’sadministration. “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 Bilal Bin Saqib. Pakistan consistently ranks in thetop 10 globally for crypto adoption, with approximately40 million usersand an estimated$300 billion in annual trading volume, according to the2023 Chainalysis GlobalCrypto AdoptionIndex. The country also produces40,000 IT graduates annuallyand is home to the4th largest freelance workforce in the world. Withover 60% of its population under the age of 30, Pakistan is uniquely positioned to become a major player in blockchain and cryptocurrency innovation. This appointment marks a pivotal moment for thenation’s digital future—one that positions Pakistanto not just participate in the global digital economy but to lead it.