Saqib | Pakistan

Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) Chief Executive Officer Bilal Bin Saqib has stepped down as special assistant to the prime minister on blockchain and cryptocurrency, it emerged on Tuesday. He continues to serve as the chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA). A notification from the Cabinet Division, signed October 13, said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif accepted Saqib’s resignation from the position with effect from August 21. He was appointed to the role on May 26, with the status of a minister of state. Saqib was appointed the PVARA chairman with the status of a minister of state on a pro bono basis for three years on August 1. PVARA is an autonomous federal body governed by a multi-stakeholder board including the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and the chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue. Its mandate is to curb illicit finance, protect consumers and unlock opportunities in fintech, remittances and toke...

ISLAMABAD: The minister of state for crypto and blockchain, Bilal Bin Saqib, met with top US lawmakers and the New York City mayor this week to strengthen cooperation on digital assets, blockchain regulation and financial innovation. The minister held discussions with Senator Cynthia Lummis, a key architect of US crypto legislation, as well as senators Bill Hagerty, Rick Scott, Tim Sheehy and Jim Justice in Washington, DC. Mr Saqib also engaged with members of the House Financial Services Committee and White House advisers, according to a press release issued on Friday. He said Pakistan is “here to lead” the world of crypto and blockchain. “From Capitol Hill to the White House, I shared a new face of Pakistan: one driven by youth, innovation, and global partnerships.” Mr Saqib’s discussions with US officials focused on Pakistan’s recent initiatives, including plans for a strategic bitcoin reserve, a virtual asset regulatory framework and stablecoin adoption to streamline remittances. With $36 billion in annua...