TASHKENT, Uzbekistan — Minister of State Bilal Bin Saqib addressed central bankers and global financial leaders at the Silk Road Finance & Technology Forum, delivering key insights on the panel

Speaking alongside the Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia and the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, the Minister emphasized that rapid technological change is outstripping traditional regulatory cycles, demanding agile and internationally coordinated oversight.

Formalizing Virtual Assets in High-Adoption Markets

Drawing on national experience, Bin Saqib detailed Pakistan's strategic transition toward a formal legal and regulatory framework for virtual assets. The initiative aims to enhance consumer protection, safeguard market integrity, and provide structured oversight for cross-border digital finance.

The Minister stressed that regulating emerging technologies is essential for managing systemic risks while encouraging responsible financial innovation.

Key Highlights from the Address

• Global Standing: Pakistan ranks 3rd globally for cryptocurrency adoption, making formal regulation a national priority.

• Remittance Optimization: Digital financial rails hold huge potential to lower transaction costs on

• Pakistan's $41 billion in annual remittances.

• Regulatory Agility: Call for international coordination to keep pace with rapid developments in AI and asset tokenization.

• Media Outreach: In an interview with TRT, the Minister further discussed Pakistan's progress in developing forward-looking digital asset policies.

Unlocking Lower Costs for Millions

Highlighting the economic scale of digital finance, Bin Saqib noted that regulated digital asset rails can significantly reduce cross-border transaction fees for millions of overseas Pakistanis.

By modernizing its financial infrastructure, Pakistan aims to streamline international capital flows, protect domestic investors, and establish a secure, forward-looking ecosystem for regional fintech integration.