Advisor to the Federal Finance Minister Khurram Schehzad said the Ministry of Finance plans to tokenise a portion of its domestic debt worth $2 billion in the first phase, primarily targeting retail investors.
He was speaking at a fireside chat titled “Tokenising the Sovereign Assets – Liquidity Ready” during the 27th ITCN Asia exhibition held at the Expo Centre. He said the government is actively working on policies aimed at empowering youth, particularly by creating opportunities in modern financial and digital sectors.
Highlighting the global context, he noted that Bitcoin has a capped global supply of nearly 21 million units, making digital assets a significant topic in today’s evolving financial landscape.
Schehzad emphasised the government’s evolving role in the digital economy, stating that its primary responsibility is to facilitate innovation and create an enabling environment for emerging technologies rather than hinder progress.
Citing available reports, he said Bitcoin and cryptocurrency mining activities are already taking place in Pakistan, reflecting growing domestic engagement with crypto-related technologies.
Discussing regulatory and institutional developments, he explained that the concept of establishing a dedicated framework or authority is linked to regulating and understanding crypto assets.
He acknowledged that Pakistan remains at a nascent stage in this domain, while citing the UAE as an example of a country that has already developed structured mechanisms for virtual assets. He stressed that Pakistan is learning from global models and moving forward cautiously.
The session concluded with an emphasis on balanced policymaking, innovation-friendly regulations, and adherence to global best practices to ensure Pakistan can responsibly explore opportunities in digital finance and sovereign asset tokenisation.
