Islamabad: Pakistan is preparing to introduce taxation on cryptocurrency transactions as part of a broader move toward formalising and regulating digital asset trading in the country, officials said on Sunday.
According to officials with direct knowledge of the development, the upcoming federal budget is expected to include provisions for taxing crypto assets, marking a key step toward integrating the digital currency market into the formal financial system.
The move comes as Pakistan advances efforts to regulate its previously unstructured cryptocurrency market through the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA). The authority has already issued no-objection certificates to global crypto exchanges, including Binance and HTX, paving the way for licensed virtual asset service providers to operate in the country.
Officials said that once licensing is fully implemented, citizens will be able to legally trade cryptocurrencies in the coming months under a regulated framework. The taxation structure, however, is still under discussion and is expected to be finalised in coordination with PVARA, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
At present, cryptocurrency trading in Pakistan operates outside a fully formal legal framework, although authorities have reportedly eased enforcement measures during the transition period toward regulation.
An FBR official said crypto income is already covered under existing tax laws, with digital mining treated as business income and gains from sales treated as capital gains. However, he noted that new legislation may introduce clearer definitions and references once the regulatory framework is fully in place.
Officials also indicated that there are differing views on how crypto should be taxed, with regulatory authorities favouring a lower tax rate to encourage formalisation, while tax officials are considering higher rates in line with broader revenue targets.
It remains under discussion whether taxation will apply to overall profits or individual transactions, with a final decision expected in upcoming policy meetings.
Once implemented, licensed exchanges will also be required to follow Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols, enabling authorities to track transactions and improve transparency in the digital asset market.
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