Bilal bin Saqib, the chief executive officer of the Pakistan Crypto Council, has stepped down from his role as special assistant to the prime minister on blockchain and cryptocurrency. The development came to light on Tuesday after an official notification revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had accepted his resignation earlier in the year. Although he has left the advisory position, Saqib will continue to serve as the chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, commonly known as PVARA.
According to the Cabinet Division notification dated October thirteen, the prime minister approved Saqib’s resignation with effect from August twenty one. Saqib had been appointed to the role on May twenty six, where he held the status of a minister of state and was tasked with supporting the government’s growing focus on blockchain regulation and digital asset governance.
While Saqib is stepping away from the prime minister’s advisory team, he remains at the helm of PVARA. He was appointed chairman of the authority on August one for a three year term on a pro bono basis, also with the status of a minister of state. His continued involvement in PVARA reflects the government’s confidence in his expertise and its commitment to structuring Pakistan’s virtual asset ecosystem through a formal regulatory framework.
PVARA functions as an autonomous federal institution and is overseen by a multi stakeholder board. Members include 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. The authority is responsible for tackling illicit financial activity, ensuring consumer protection and creating opportunities in fintech, remittances and tokenised assets. It also aims to promote Shariah compliant innovation through regulatory sandboxes that allow startups to test emerging products in a controlled environment.
Saqib’s profile extends beyond Pakistan’s regulatory landscape. Forbes has featured him in its prestigious thirty under thirty list, highlighting his work as the cofounder of Tayaba. The initiative focuses on providing solutions to Pakistan’s water crisis and has been recognized internationally as a model of social impact entrepreneurship. His contributions have not been limited to Pakistan alone. Saqib received an MBE in 2023 for his service to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service during critical periods. An MBE, or Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, is awarded to individuals whose work has made a meaningful and lasting contribution to society.
Saqib’s departure from the prime minister’s advisory role marks a shift in the government’s approach to managing virtual asset policy, but his continued leadership of PVARA ensures he remains an important figure in shaping Pakistan’s digital finance future. Observers say his experience in both social innovation and financial technology will continue to influence the country’s efforts to build a transparent, inclusive and secure virtual asset framework.
