“An Invitation to the World’s Leading VASPs”: Pakistan Seeks Partners for Its Digital Future

“This is our invitation to the world’s leading VASPs to partner in building a transparent and inclusive digital financial future for Pakistan.”

With those words from Chairman Bilal bin Saqib, Pakistan’s crypto regulator (PVARA) has officially opened its doors to global cryptocurrency firms.

The call targets companies already regulated in jurisdictions like the US or EU, asking them to apply for a license to serve the nation’s 40 million local users.

The move to create a formal, regulated market includes a unique requirement: all services must be vetted for compliance with Sharia law, blending modern crypto finance with the country’s Islamic financial principles.