Page 7 - CMA Journal (Jan-Feb 2026)

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Exclusive Interview

“ t age: 30 million plus
Pakistan has a profound advantage: 30 million plus

hat has already
crypto users, a young population that has already
ganically, and
embraced emerging technology organically, and
catch up. My
the hunger to leapfrog rather than catch up. My
y into
legacy is to channel this raw energy into
Pakistan
structured leadership, positioning Pakistan
ches
not as a country that passively watches
the future unfold, but as one that
actively architects it “

b
Mr. Bilal Bin Saqib

,
Minister of State and Chairman,
n
Pakistan Virtual Assets ts
Regulatory Authority (PVARA)
A)
ICMA: As the founding Chairman building PVARA ICMA: At Davos, you engaged with the world's top
from the ground up, what is the single most financial leaders. What specific opportunity did you
important legacy you intend to create for Pakistan’s discover there that you're most excited to bring back
financial system? to Pakistan’s digital economy?
Bilal Bin Saqib: The single most important legacy I Bilal Bin Saqib: At Davos, what struck me most was how
intend to create is preparing Pakistan for 2050, not by decisively the conversation has shifted from digital
regulating what exists today, but by building the transformation to AI-native economies. Across sessions
infrastructure for what is coming tomorrow. at the World Economic Forum, leaders were not debating
whether AI will reshape finance, but how quickly it
We stand at the intersection of three transformative
already is. AI is now driving real-time risk modelling,
forces: AI, blockchain, and quantum computing.
automating compliance, optimising capital allocation,
Traditional economics and finance are becoming
and powering smarter, faster payment systems. It is
increasingly obsolete. Geographies are dissolving. The
disrupting everything from banking and trade finance to
old gatekeepers are being replaced by protocols. In this
supply chains and labour markets. For Pakistan, this
new world, nations that regulate yesterday's models will
presents a historic opportunities, for instance:
be left behind. Nations that incubate, accelerate, and
build will lead. First, AI-enhanced digital payment rails and blockchain
infrastructure can make remittances faster, cheaper, and
Pakistan has a profound advantage of 30 million plus
more secure, allowing us to capture more value from our
crypto users, a young population that has already
diaspora flows.
embraced emerging technology organically, and the
hunger to leapfrog rather than catch up. My legacy is to Second, tokenisation is moving from pilots to real
channel this raw energy into structured leadership, implementation globally, enabling fractional access to
positioning Pakistan not as a country that passively infrastructure, real estate, and global securities. That

could democratise investment access for Pakistanis at
watches the future unfold, but as one that actively
architects it. home and abroad.
ICMA’s Chartered Management Accountant, Jan-Feb 2026 5