Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has appointed Crypto Council CEO Bilal Bin Saqib as Special Assistant to the PM on Blockchain and Crypto, granting him the status of a Minister of State.
On Sunday, Pakistan announced that it will use 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity to power Bitcoin mining and AI data centers. This marks a major step in the country’s push toward digital growth.
The goal is to attract foreign investment and position Pakistan as a serious player in the global tech economy, placing this responsibility on Saqib’s shoulders.
Who is Saqib?
Saqib has a very impressive background, which helped him earn this important role. Here’s a brief overview of some of his key achievements:
- He studied at the London School of Economics and received an MBE award from King Charles III. He is already a major figure in Pakistan’s crypto space.
- He leads the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) and also serves as an advisor to the Finance Minister.
- Under his leadership, the PCC has formed high-level partnerships, including a recent deal with World Liberty Financial (WLF), a DeFi project supported by Donald Trump.
- He appointed Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) as a Strategic Advisor to the PCC.
Saqib’s Vision for Blockchain and Crypto in Pakistan
As Special Assistant, Saqib will handle several key responsibilities. These include drafting crypto regulations that meet FATF standards, launching government-backed Bitcoin mining projects, and promoting blockchain use in government services, land records, and finance.
One of his most important tasks will be to oversee the licensing of virtual asset service providers and to improve investor protection in the Web3 space.
Is Pakistan Emerging as a Key Player in the Crypto World?
Pakistan produces around 40,000 IT graduates each year and ranks fourth globally in freelance work, showing it has a strong and growing tech workforce.
Saqib’s appointment comes as the country seeks to tap into its digital potential and youthful population, with over 60% of citizens under the age of 30.
With this step, Pakistan joins a small group of countries, including the U.S., UAE, and El Salvador, that have made crypto and blockchain a top-level government focus.
