In a significant high-level meeting held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, engaged with Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), to discuss the future trajectory of Pakistan’s digital economy. Central to their dialogue was a shared vision to empower the country’s youth through cutting-edge technologies such as blockchain, cryptocurrency, and artificial intelligence (AI).
The meeting highlighted the government and military’s increasing recognition of emerging technologies as vital components for economic resilience and global competitiveness. Both leaders emphasized that the country’s youth must be the cornerstone of this transformative journey. Bilal Bin Saqib articulated this vision clearly, stating that the Pakistan Crypto Council exists to ensure that young Pakistanis secure a meaningful role on the global technology stage. He expressed optimism that digital finance, decentralization, and AI are not challenges but rather opportunities for Pakistan’s youth to innovate, lead, and elevate the nation’s status on the world map.
During the meeting, Saqib shared updates on PCC’s recent activities, including international collaborations such as hosting the delegation from World Liberty Financial and interactions with Binance’s founder, Changpeng Zhao. He also touched on ongoing regulatory consultations designed to create an enabling environment for blockchain innovation, alongside initiatives aimed at equipping the youth with relevant digital skills to compete globally.
In alignment with these efforts, the Ministry of Finance announced a comprehensive strategy to regulate digital assets and boost Pakistan’s virtual asset economy. This plan includes the establishment of the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA), a regulatory body tasked with overseeing blockchain financial infrastructure, ensuring security, fostering innovation, and promoting economic inclusion.
Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb underlined the government’s commitment to digital transformation, describing the PDAA as a critical step toward positioning Pakistan as a regional leader in blockchain regulation and digital finance. The authority is expected to bring legal clarity to investors, regulate the vast informal crypto market—estimated at $300 billion—and enable new avenues for asset tokenization and government debt monetization. Moreover, the PDAA will oversee initiatives such as using Pakistan’s surplus electricity to support regulated Bitcoin mining operations and AI data centers, further cementing the country’s role in digital infrastructure development.
This national push for technological advancement and youth empowerment comes at a pivotal time as Bilal Bin Saqib prepares to represent Pakistan at the Bitcoin 2025 Conference in Las Vegas. The event will bring together global leaders from the cryptocurrency and blockchain space, including prominent figures from the US government, major technology companies, and the international crypto community.
Saqib reiterated the importance of strong national leadership backing these initiatives, affirming that Pakistan’s youth are not merely future participants but active drivers of change. The Pakistan Crypto Council continues to serve as a vital institution promoting crypto policy, innovation, youth empowerment, and global engagement.
Pakistan’s digital ecosystem is supported by a vast and dynamic population, with over 50 million crypto users and an annual crypto trading volume surpassing $300 billion. With 70% of its 240 million people under the age of 30, Pakistan is uniquely positioned as one of the most promising emerging markets for blockchain and digital finance innovation. The country is also ranked as the third-largest freelancer market globally, highlighting the entrepreneurial spirit and technical capabilities of its workforce. Each year, more than 50,000 IT graduates enter the job market, ready to fuel Pakistan’s ambitions to lead in the global digital economy.
The meeting between Field Marshal Munir and PCC CEO Bilal Bin Saqib symbolizes Pakistan’s firm commitment to harnessing digital technologies to empower its youth and strengthen its economic future on the global stage.
