Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Thursday reaffirmed that Pakistan’s approach to virtual assets and blockchain technology will remain firmly aligned with the country’s specific risk profile and regulatory priorities, including safeguards against capital flight, money laundering, and investor suitability.
The minister emphasised the need for pragmatic, coordinated, and forward-looking approaches to climate finance and sustainable development while speaking at the 28th Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in Islamabad. The minister addressed a special session titled “Mobilizing Finance for Circular South Asia: Blended Finance, Regional Funds and Private Capital”, held in collaboration with UNESCAP, IGES, and other regional partners, which brought together policymakers, economists, and development experts from across South Asia.
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Welcoming the local and international delegates, Senator Aurangzeb noted that despite global uncertainty, the world economy continues to show remarkable resilience, driven by structural reforms, private sector dynamism, and restrained protectionist policies. He underlined that countries like Pakistan must continue to build strong fiscal and external buffers to manage potential external shocks amid rising protectionism and supply chain realignments. Touching briefly on Pakistan’s emerging digital finance landscape, the minister referred to the creation of the Pakistan Crypto Council and the establishment of the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority, which is being legislated through Parliament.
Turning to the core theme of climate finance, Senator Aurangzeb highlighted Pakistan’s comprehensive framework that includes the National Adaptation Plan, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the Climate Prosperity Plan with the V-20, the Green Taxonomy issued by the State Bank, and the National Climate Finance Strategy rolled out in Baku last year. He noted that while the global financing gap remains large, Pakistan already has sufficient resources and frameworks to begin effective implementation.
