Pakistan’s transition from economic stabilization toward sustainable growth will require greater attention to digital transformation, with digital public infrastructure, cashless payments and workforce development identified as important areas for future economic activity. Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb highlighted these priorities while speaking at the Digital Cooperation Organization’s High-Level Ministerial Dialogue during his visit to New York for the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
According to a press release issued on September 24, Senator Aurangzeb said digital transformation has become an important component of Pakistan’s broader economic development efforts. He emphasized the need to expand digital public infrastructure and encourage cashless payment systems as part of efforts to improve the way individuals and businesses participate in the economy. The focus on digital infrastructure also reflects the growing role of technology in financial services, government systems and commercial activity, particularly as countries seek to build systems capable of supporting wider digital adoption.
The Finance Minister also pointed to the importance of developing human capital alongside infrastructure. He stressed the need for upskilling and reskilling initiatives to enable freelancers and other digital workers to move toward higher-value services. Pakistan has a growing base of individuals working in digital and technology-enabled fields, and improving their skills can support their participation in more specialized areas of the global digital economy. The remarks placed workforce development alongside digital infrastructure and payment modernization as part of the wider transition toward sustainable economic growth.
During the dialogue, Senator Aurangzeb also discussed the growing adoption of virtual assets and the policy work being undertaken in Pakistan. He outlined the country’s efforts relating to legislation, oversight and licensing in the virtual asset space. The discussion indicated that Pakistan’s approach is not limited to the use of cryptocurrencies as financial instruments, but also considers wider applications of digital asset technologies that could have practical implications for financial transactions and economic activity.
Among the potential applications highlighted were more efficient remittance services. Digital technologies and virtual asset infrastructure could potentially support cheaper and more seamless cross-border transfers, an area of particular relevance for Pakistan given the importance of remittances to the country’s external accounts. The Finance Minister also referred to the potential tokenization of public debt and real estate, pointing to possible applications of digital asset technology beyond cryptocurrency trading and conventional virtual asset use.
The remarks also focused on cooperation between countries within the Digital Cooperation Organization. Senator Aurangzeb called for closer collaboration among DCO member states to exchange successful approaches and experiences in digital transformation. He also emphasized the importance of using such cooperation to attract investment into the digital economy, indicating that coordinated efforts among member countries could help create opportunities for technology development and digital investment.
The High-Level Ministerial Dialogue provided a platform for discussions on digital cooperation as Pakistan continues to develop its policy and infrastructure frameworks around emerging technologies. Senator Aurangzeb’s remarks brought together several areas of the digital economy, including public infrastructure, cashless payments, workforce skills, virtual assets, remittances and potential tokenization applications. The emphasis on cooperation and investment reflects the broader role digital technologies are expected to play as Pakistan moves from economic stabilization toward longer-term sustainable growth.
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