The Prime Minister has officially appointed Bilal Bin Saqib as the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Blockchain and Cryptocurrency, granting him the status of Minister of State. This landmark move places Pakistan among a select group of nations—such as the U.S., UAE, and El Salvador—that have dedicated leadership focused on blockchain and crypto innovation.
Bilal, who also leads as CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) and serves as Chief Advisor to the Finance Minister, has played a pivotal role in advancing Pakistan’s position in the global digital economy. Under his leadership, the PCC signed a strategic partnership with World Liberty Financial (WLF), a decentralized finance platform supported by U.S. President Donald Trump, to accelerate blockchain adoption and stablecoin integration in Pakistan. He also brought Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) on board as a Strategic Advisor to guide crypto regulation, infrastructure, and education.
An LSE graduate with a Master’s in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Bilal Bin Saqib was recognized in Forbes Asia’s 30 Under 30 list for social impact and was awarded the MBE by King Charles III for his achievements.
As SAPM, Bilal’s primary responsibilities will include:
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Creating a FATF-compliant regulatory framework for digital assets
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Launching national Bitcoin mining initiatives
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Integrating blockchain across governance, finance, and land records
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Licensing and supervising Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs)
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Promoting investor protection and fostering Web3 innovation
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This appointment signals Pakistan’s serious intent to lead in digital transformation, especially in emerging technologies. Much like the U.S. did by appointing David Sacks as its AI and Crypto lead under Donald Trump, Pakistan is trusting its tech-savvy youth to shape the nation’s digital future.
Pakistan already ranks among the world’s top 10 countries in crypto adoption, with over 40 million users and an annual trading volume surpassing $300 billion, according to the 2023 Chainalysis Index. With 40,000 IT graduates annually and a large, young population (over 60% under 30), the country is primed to benefit immensely from strategic crypto and blockchain development.
In Bilal’s own words, “Pakistan’s youthful energy and digital potential give us a unique edge to leap ahead in blockchain and crypto innovation, boosting economic growth, competitiveness, and global relevance.
