ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Senior leadership from Binance, including Global CEO Richard Teng, visited Pakistan for high-level engagements with the country’s top leadership, signalling a strong commitment to developing a forward-looking digital asset regulatory environment.
The delegation met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and other senior officials. Chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (PVARA), Bilal Bin Saqib, also participated, briefing attendees on the authority’s mandate, progress, and plans for a robust digital asset framework.
National Digital Asset Framework
Saturday’s meeting follows a high-level consultative meeting on Pakistan’s National Digital Asset Framework, hosted by the Finance Division and co-chaired by Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb and PVARA Chairman Bilal Bin Saqib. Participants included senior executives from Binance, State Bank officials, and presidents of major Pakistani banks.
Finance Division hosted a high-level consultative meeting on Pakistan’s National Digital Asset Framework, co-chaired by Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb and PVARA Chairman Bilal Bin Saqib. Top leadership from the State Bank, presidents of major Pakistani banks, and… pic.twitter.com/pKKkszutLz
— Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan (@Financegovpk) December 5, 2025Discussions focused on creating a secure, transparent, and innovation-driven digital asset ecosystem. Key areas included responsible rollout of on/off-ramp infrastructure, strengthened compliance and AML/CFT standards, greater market transparency, and integration of regulated financial institutions.
Minister Aurangzeb emphasised Pakistan’s commitment to a regulatory environment that protects national interests while promoting technological advancement. He highlighted the importance of coordination between government authorities, global exchanges, and domestic banks to modernise payments, expand financial inclusion, and align with international best practices.
Global insights and local opportunities
The Binance delegation shared insights on global digital asset trends and Pakistan’s rapidly growing role in the sector. Key points included formalising citizen-held virtual assets for improved financial visibility, leveraging blockchain to reduce costs from USD38 billion in annual remittances, building local Web3 talent to create high-value jobs, and exploring sovereign debt tokenisation to expand liquidity and investor access.
Participants also discussed principles for taxation and compliance frameworks, including oversight through licensed exchanges, phased capital gains structures, and time-bound amnesties to encourage adoption of regulated platforms. Work is underway on a structured licensing regime for Virtual Asset Service Providers to meet global standards, ensure user protection, and foster institutional participation.
Bank leaders shared perspectives on custody, risk management, and collaboration as Pakistan prepares to integrate regulated digital assets into its financial ecosystem.
Driving National Progress
Chairman Bilal Bin Saqib highlighted Pakistan’s unique opportunity to shape global digital finance norms. He described digital assets as core financial infrastructure capable of supporting inclusion, unlocking new banking opportunities, and advancing national development. PVARA’s approach emphasises innovation, collaboration, regulatory alignment, sandboxes, and capacity-building to ensure a Pakistan-first digital asset strategy.