Islamabad: Bilal Bin Saqib, Pakistan’s Minister of State for Crypto and Blockchain, has resigned from his position as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) owing to bureaucratic hurdles. The move stems from the Rules of Business 1973, which prohibit holding the SAPM role while chairing a statutory body like the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), of which Saqib remains chairman.
Rumors of the crypto ministry’s shutdown spread rapidly on WhatsApp, but a staffer clarified that developments continue, with Saqib scheduled to speak at Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai on December 3. His profile was removed from the Cabinet Division website, igniting social media chatter. Journalist Shahzad Paracha posted on X: “Has Bilal Bin Saqib’s state minister position been revoked? Profile deleted from cabinet division website,” noting PVARA’s finalized crypto rules and impending notification.
Appointed in May 2025, Saqib spearheaded Pakistan’s blockchain strategy, establishing PVARA and the Pakistan Crypto Council. With over 50 million crypto users and $300 billion in annual trading, Pakistan ranks top 5 globally in adoption, bolstered by its youthful demographic—70% under 30—and third-largest freelancer market.
A Forbes Under 30 alum and MBE recipient from King Charles III for humanitarian work like One Million Meals during COVID-19, Saqib founded Tayaba to address water crises via the H2O Wheel. Reddit users speculated on his vested interests in crypto businesses, calling his tenure promotional amid unregulated markets. Analysts see this as a regulatory alignment, potentially speeding crypto legalization without performance concerns.
