Chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), Bilal bin Saqib, has said that Pakistan has, for the first time, opened a regulated, transparent, and globally compliant pathway for international digital asset exchanges.
Addressing a press briefing in Islamabad, he stated that the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to Binance and HTX marks a practical step towards the country’s new regulatory vision for virtual assets.
He said the framework would enable effective oversight of anti-money laundering (AML) measures and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) mechanisms.
Highlighting Pakistan’s rapid adoption of digital assets, Bilal bin Saqib said the country ranks among the world’s top three crypto-adopting nations, with an estimated 30 to 40 million Pakistanis actively using digital assets.
He further noted that the $100 trillion global bond market is increasingly shifting towards digital systems, underscoring the growing importance of regulating crypto and virtual assets within a robust legal framework.
Underlining the need for timely and informed decision-making, the PVARA chairman said Pakistan aims to position itself as a global model for digital asset regulation.
He added that over the next decade, the country intends to strengthen its economic sovereignty through the strategic use of technology.