Bilal Bin Saqib
Bilal Bin Saqib MBE | |
|---|---|
| Chairman, PVARA | |
| In office 2 December 2025 – 2 March 2026 | |
| President | Asif Ali Zardari |
| Prime Minister | Shehbaz Sharif |
| Preceded by | Nawaz Sharif |
| CEO of Pakistan Crypto Council | |
| In office 14 March 2025 – 2 March 2026 | |
| President | Asif Ali Zardari |
| Prime Minister | Shehbaz Sharif |
| Preceded by | Nawaz Sharif |
| Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Blockchain and Crypto | |
| In office 26 May 2025 – 02 Dec 2025[1] | |
| President | Asif Ali Zardari |
| Prime Minister | Shehbaz Sharif |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Relatives | Momin Saqib (brother) |
| Alma mater | London School of Economics |
Bilal Bin Saqib is an entrepreneur currently serving as Chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA)[2] and CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council[3][4][5][6]. He previously served as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Blockchain and Crypto.[7]
Early life and education
Bilal received his early education in Lahore from Lahore Grammar School[8] after which he went to Queen Mary University of London[9] and then graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science with a master's degree in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship.[10]
Career
At the age of 34, Bilal co-founded One Million Meals, an initiative launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide free meals to NHS workers and frontline staff throughout the UK. In recognition of this work, he was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). He is also the founder of the Tayaba Organisation in Pakistan, which has distributed over 30,000 H2O Wheels — a device designed to assist women in rural areas by enabling them to roll heavy water containers rather than carry them manually.[11]
In 2025, he was appointed as the Minister of State for Digital Assets by the Government of Pakistan to lead national efforts in developing a regulatory framework and strategy for cryptocurrency and blockchain adoption.[12]
In December 2025, Saqib was appointed Chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), the national regulator responsible for overseeing virtual assets, cryptocurrency exchanges, and blockchain-based financial services in Pakistan[13].
Awards and honours
He was listed in Forbes 30 under 30 Asia[14][15] under social entrepreneurs.[16]
- United Kingdom:
- Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)
References
- ^ "Bilal Bin Saqib resigns as SAPM on Blockchain and Crypto". The Express Tribune. 2 December 2025.
- ^ Qasim, Affan (2025-12-02). "Bilal Bin Saqib resigns as SAPM on Blockchain and Crypto". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2025-12-16.
- ^ "Pakistan Crypto Council officially launched to integrate blockchain technology with financial landscape". Archived from the original on 17 March 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ^ "Govt forms crypto council". Archived from the original on 17 March 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ^ "Pakistan launches Crypto Council to regulate blockchain, digital assets". Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ^ "Pakistan Crypto Council officially launched".
- ^ Sherani, Tahir (May 26, 2025). "Bilal Bin Saqib appointed special assistant to PM on blockchain and crypto". DAWN.COM.
- ^ Shah, Murtaza Ali. "Pakistani elected LSE postgraduate students' officer". The News International. Jang Group of Newspaper.
- ^ "Alumni Profile - Bilal - School of Business and Management". www.qmul.ac.uk.
- ^ "Rising stars: LSE alumni featured in Forbes 30 under 30". London School of Economics Alumni. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
- ^ Balakrishnan, Paran (1 August 2025). "Is Pakistan pulling an end-run around India in Washington with its cryptocurrency hype?". The Telegraph India. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
- ^ "7 things about Bilal Bin Saqib, the man behind Pakistan's big Bitcoin bet". Firstpost. 2025-05-07. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
- ^ Qasim, Affan (2025-12-02). "Bilal Bin Saqib resigns as SAPM on Blockchain and Crypto". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2025-12-16.
- ^ "30 Under 30 Asia 2020". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
- ^ Piracha, Kinza (2020-04-20). "Pakistani Student Makes It To Forbes '30 Under 30' Asia 2020 List". Brandsynario. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
- ^ "30 Under 30 Asia 2020: Social Entrepreneurs". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-05-30.