Bilal bin Saqib appointed as SAPM on blockchain, crypto

In a historic move, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Bilal bin Saqib as his Special Assistant on blockchain and cryptocurrency, conferring upon him the status of Minister of State. 

With this decision, Pakistan joins an exclusive group of just seven to nine countries, including the United States, El Salvador, and the United Arab Emirates, that have designated high-ranking officials to oversee blockchain and digital asset policy.

“Just as the United States has brought leaders like David Sacks, appointed by Donald Trump as the White House AI and Crypto Czar, into its digital policy framework, Pakistan is taking a forward-thinking approach by empowering a youth leader to help steer national strategy in emerging technologies,” the press release read.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Bilal bin Saqib currently serves as the CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) and Chief Advisor to the Finance Minister. Under his leadership, the PCC has advanced strategic partnerships between Pakistan and global tech institutions.

One of the council's landmark achievements includes a strategic partnership with World Liberty Financial (WLF), a decentralised finance platform reportedly supported by US President Donald Trump. The agreement aims to foster blockchain innovation and promote stablecoin adoption in Pakistan.

Read: Pakistan Crypto Council inks landmark agreement with Trump-backed World Liberty Financial

Bilal also appointed Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) as a strategic advisor to the PCC, guiding Pakistan's development of crypto regulations, blockchain infrastructure, and educational initiatives in the Web3 space.

A graduate of the London School of Economics with a Master's in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Bilal bin Saqib has been recognised in Forbes Asia’s “30 Under 30” list for his social enterprise, Tayaba, which aims to provide solutions to Pakistan’s water crisis. 

He was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by King Charles III for his philanthropic work.

In his new role, Bilal will be tasked with formulating a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets aligned with FATF standards, launching Bitcoin mining initiatives, integrating blockchain into government operations, including finance and land records, licensing and supervising Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), protecting investor interests, and fostering Pakistan’s Web3 ecosystem.