Islamabad: Advisor to the Federal Finance Minister, Khurram Schehzad, has revealed that the Ministry of Finance plans to tokenise a portion of Pakistan’s domestic debt worth USD 2 billion in the first phase, with a primary focus on retail investors.
Speaking at a fireside chat titled “Tokenising the Sovereign Assets – Liquidity Ready” during the 27th ITCN Asia exhibition at the Expo Centre, Schehzad highlighted the government’s efforts to empower youth and create opportunities in modern financial and digital sectors.
He noted that Bitcoin, with a capped global supply of nearly 21 million units, underscores the growing relevance of digital assets in today’s financial landscape. Schehzad emphasised that the government’s role is to facilitate innovation and create an enabling environment for emerging technologies rather than restrict progress.
Citing domestic developments, he said cryptocurrency mining and related activities are already taking place in Pakistan, reflecting increasing local engagement with digital assets. He added that establishing a dedicated regulatory framework or authority for crypto assets is part of the government’s plan to better understand and manage this emerging sector.
While acknowledging that Pakistan is still in the early stages of digital finance adoption, Schehzad pointed to international examples, such as the UAE, which have implemented structured mechanisms for virtual assets. He stressed that Pakistan is moving cautiously, learning from global best practices to ensure responsible exploration of tokenisation and digital financial instruments.
The session concluded with a focus on balanced policymaking, innovation-friendly regulations, and adherence to global standards to support the country’s growing engagement with digital finance and sovereign asset tokenisation.
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