NextWallet is proud to be the Technology Media Partner for the Leadership Summit: Technology and Policy 2026, organized by LUMS Center for Digital Assets Research CeDAR, scheduled to take place on May 2 and 3, 2026 at LUMS B3 SDSB. The summit is designed as a focused platform for discussions around emerging financial technologies, bringing together stakeholders from banking, fintech, venture capital, policy, and academia to examine the evolving role of digital assets and blockchain in Pakistan.
The two day summit will feature a series of panel discussions addressing key themes shaping the financial ecosystem. Among the highlighted sessions is AI, Blockchain and Digital Assets: Shaping the Future of Intelligent and Regulated Finance, moderated by Suleman Shahid from LUMS faculty, with participation from Faisal Ejaz Khan of Bank of Punjab, Faisal Aftab of Zayn VC, Humza Khan from Binance, and Ihsan Ayuub Qazi from LUMS. Another major discussion, Beyond Cash: The Road to a Digitally Inclusive Payments Ecosystem in Pakistan, will be moderated by Khalique Zaman of Barsols and include speakers such as Hamayun Sajjad of Mashreq Bank, Sharjeel Murtaza of Karandaaz Pakistan, Adnan Aslam of DigiKhata, Mahmood Shamsher Ali of Alif, Atta ur Rehman from JazzCash, and Francisco Javier Fernandez of Fuze Finance. These sessions aim to explore how financial services can expand access and integrate digital solutions into everyday transactions.
Further discussions will examine the broader regulatory and market landscape for digital assets. The session titled The Future of Digital Assets in Pakistan, moderated by Muhammad Yar Hiraj from SDSB LUMS, will include contributions from Shahzad Ishaq of MCB, Nofel Daud of Bank of Punjab, Umer Khan of Visa Pakistan and Afghanistan, Zain Imtiaz Saeed of PVARA, Faraz Younus Bandukda of Al Hilal Shariah Advisors, Daniel Ahmed of Fasset, and Khurram Zafar of Pakistan Mercantile Exchange. Another session, Rethinking Trading and Finance in the Digital Era, will bring together industry leaders such as Hamayun Sajjad, Sharjeel Murtaza, Ahmet Kayhan of VEON, Danish A. Lakhani of NayaPay, and Ali Mukhtar of Fatima Gobi Ventures. These conversations are expected to cover trading models, digital payments, and the intersection of financial innovation with regulatory frameworks.
According to Fatima Tanvir Gilani, Project Manager and Event Host at LUMS CeDAR, the aim of the summit is to create a collaborative platform where banks, fintechs, venture capitalists, founders, policymakers, and researchers can collectively examine how blockchain and digital assets can shape Pakistan’s economic and governance landscape. The initiative reflects a growing interest in aligning innovation with policy considerations while encouraging responsible adoption of emerging technologies. While the local ICT industry participation has been open through invitations, the event is structured to facilitate dialogue across sectors and promote knowledge exchange.
Commenting on the partnership, Threat Fence emphasized the role of CSO Pakistan in extending the reach of Cyber Safe Pakistan 2026 and coming onboard as technology media partner for the event. The collaboration will support ongoing engagement beyond the event by enabling knowledge sharing and continuous dialogue around cybersecurity practices and digital risk management.
As Technology Media Partner, NextWallet will provide editorial coverage of the summit, including insights from panel discussions and stakeholder perspectives. More details about the event can be accessed at here and updates will also be shared through CeDAR’s LinkedIn presence at here.
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