Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has urged Pakistan to speed up its adoption of new digital technologies. He highlighted the importance of blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), cryptocurrency, and Web 3.0 for building a stronger economy. Speaking at a summit in Islamabad, he stressed that the country must not fall behind global trends in technology and innovation.
Aurangzeb explained that digital tools can help Pakistan become faster, cheaper, and more efficient. He pointed out that 10-15% of Pakistanis, especially the youth, are already involved in online businesses. The minister also called remittances the “lifeline” of the country and said many companies are helping manage these money flows more effectively.
He emphasized the need for clear rules in the digital space. To support this, the government has formed the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC). He also announced that the first meeting of the new Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) will be held on Monday. The group will discuss policies and start work on a regulatory framework.
The minister said Pakistan has already seen success, including its removal from the FATF grey list. He noted that international partners are ready to help, so Pakistan doesn’t have to build everything from scratch. He urged the country to learn from global examples and quickly adopt what works best.
Aurangzeb concluded by saying Pakistan must embrace the new economy. With more than 70% of the population under age 30 and over 40 million crypto users, he believes the country has massive potential. The finance ministry, he said, is fully ready to support this digital shift.