Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb described digital transformation as a key part of Pakistan’s transition from economic stabilization to sustainable growth, with emphasis placed on the development of digital public infrastructure and cashless payments, alongside upskilling and reskilling to help freelancers and other digital workers move into higher-value services. The remarks came at the Digital Cooperation Organization’s (DCO) High-Level Ministerial Dialogue, held during Aurangzeb’s visit to New York to attend the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, according to a press release issued by the finance ministry. Aurangzeb’s appearance places Pakistan’s digital economy messaging directly alongside other DCO member states during one of the year’s most closely watched diplomatic gatherings.
Noting the widespread adoption of virtual assets, the Finance Minister outlined Pakistan’s ongoing work on legislation, oversight, and licensing in the space, while emphasizing practical uses beyond cryptocurrency, including cheaper and more seamless remittances and the potential tokenization of public debt and real estate. This framing extends Pakistan’s rapidly evolving digital asset agenda over the past year, which has included the creation of the Pakistan Crypto Council, the establishment of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), and a December 2025 memorandum of understanding with Binance to explore tokenization of up to $2 billion in sovereign bonds, treasury bills, and commodity reserves. Aurangzeb’s specific mention of remittances and real estate tokenization at the DCO dialogue suggests the government continues to position virtual asset infrastructure as a tool for practical financial applications rather than purely speculative trading activity.
Senator Aurangzeb called for closer collaboration among DCO member states to share successful approaches and attract investment in the digital economy, positioning Pakistan as an active participant in a multilateral forum specifically focused on digital cooperation among its member countries. The Digital Cooperation Organization, an intergovernmental body focused on fostering an inclusive digital economy among its members, has increasingly become a platform where countries like Pakistan showcase domestic digital reforms while seeking to attract cross-border investment and knowledge-sharing partnerships. Aurangzeb’s call for closer collaboration reflects a broader pattern in Pakistan’s international digital economy diplomacy, which has similarly emphasized attracting international expertise and investment through partnerships with entities like Binance and ongoing engagement with international regulators on frameworks for digital assets.
The minister’s remarks tie together several strands of Pakistan’s current digital economy agenda, from foundational digital public infrastructure work being carried out by the Pakistan Digital Authority to the more specialized virtual assets and tokenization initiatives being pursued through PVARA. By linking upskilling and reskilling for freelancers directly to the broader digital transformation narrative at an international forum, Aurangzeb positioned Pakistan’s large freelance workforce as both a beneficiary of and contributor to the country’s digital economy ambitions. Whether this DCO engagement translates into concrete investment commitments or knowledge-sharing partnerships with other member states will likely become clearer in the months following the ministerial dialogue, as Pakistan continues balancing its virtual asset regulatory buildout with its broader digital public infrastructure and financial inclusion priorities.
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