Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb carried out his inaugural visit to the Pakistan Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (PVARA) on Thursday, marking an important step in the government’s broader efforts to establish a structured and secure regulatory framework for virtual assets in Pakistan. The visit signifies growing government engagement with the rapidly evolving digital asset ecosystem and reflects a coordinated push toward formalizing rules that support innovation while safeguarding financial stability.
During the briefing, PVARA’s senior leadership presented an overview of the Authority’s mandate and its phased approach toward developing Pakistan’s first governance structure for digital and virtual assets. Officials explained that the regulatory roadmap is being designed to align with national economic priorities, ensure consumer protection, support market transparency, and maintain the integrity of the financial system. The framework is expected to address licensing, operational standards, risk controls, and compliance requirements for entities dealing in virtual assets.
PVARA informed the minister that extensive consultations are underway with domestic institutions, global experts, and international regulatory bodies. These engagements aim to ensure that Pakistan’s virtual asset regime reflects global best practices and is consistent with evolving international standards on digital asset oversight. The authority is also finalizing regulatory guidelines intended to bring clarity to market participants and reduce legal ambiguities as the country transitions toward formalized supervision of virtual asset activity.
Minister Aurangzeb commended PVARA’s progress since its establishment and stressed that timely implementation of a comprehensive regulatory structure is essential for Pakistan’s economic resilience and investor confidence. He emphasized that regulatory clarity in the virtual asset space will become increasingly important as global markets continue to adopt digital financial technologies. The minister also instructed his office to help remove administrative barriers and ensure that PVARA’s initiatives proceed without delays.
PVARA Chairman Bilal Bin Saqib highlighted the authority’s commitment to promoting responsible innovation backed by strong regulatory safeguards. He noted that Pakistan’s inclusion in global policy discussion is strengthening, citing his participation in the World Economic Forum’s Steering Committee on Digital Asset Regulations as a sign of the country’s growing relevance in international regulatory circles. He added that PVARA aims to build a regulatory environment that supports emerging technologies while mitigating associated risks.
The visit concluded with a reaffirmation of the government’s commitment to developing transparent, accountable, and internationally aligned regulations for the digital asset ecosystem. As Pakistan’s digital landscape expands, the establishment of a credible and modern regulatory structure for virtual assets is expected to play a critical role in fostering financial innovation, encouraging responsible market growth, and positioning the country competitively within the global digital economy.
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