Pakistan Embarks on Digital Finance Revolution at Landmark Karachi Summit

The event, organized by REIT Academy Pakistan

IRADM, Blockanica Technologies, and DigiEstate

spotlighted innovations in blockchain

Staff Reporter

Karachi: Pakistan moved closer to realizing its digital economy vision as key stakeholders from the government, finance, and tech sectors convened at the National Incubation Center (NIC) Karachi for a landmark event on virtual assets and digital transformation.
Jointly organized by REIT Academy Pakistan, IRADM, Blockanica Technologies, and DigiEstate, the event brought together renowned experts and thought leaders to discuss blockchain innovation, asset tokenization, and the evolving regulatory landscape for digital finance in Pakistan.

Khurram Schehzad Outlines Reforms for Regulated Digital Finance
Advisor to the Minister for Finance & Revenue, Mr. Khurram Schehzad, delivered the keynote address, presenting the government’s strategic roadmap for a regulated and innovation-driven digital finance ecosystem. He credited Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb for taking bold steps, including the creation of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) and the enactment of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) Ordinance 2025.
“We are not merely experimenting with crypto—we are building a secure, Shariah-compliant, and future-ready digital economy,” said Mr. Schehzad. “Our focus is on transparency, compliance, and financial inclusion.”

Mr. Schehzad highlighted coordinated efforts among the Ministry of Finance, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), Ministry of IT, and Ministry of Law to align with FATF and AML regulations while building trust through institutional frameworks.

He also revealed key components of the government’s broader economic strategy:

• Privatization of major SOEs including PIA, ZTBL, and DISCOs in FY26
• Federal government rightsizing and pension reform
• Digitization-led energy and tax reforms
• Optimization of public finance and climate change adaptation
• Tokenization of real-world assets such as real estate and mining
• Blockchain integration in finance, agriculture, and other sectors
• Copper and rare earth mining reforms
• Ecosystem development through private credit and startup financing

DigiEstate Completes Blockchain Testing, Launches Tokenization Academy
DigiEstate, Pakistan’s first Real Estate Tokenization (RET) management and issuer firm, announced the successful completion of its Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) testing under SECP’s Regulatory Sandbox.
In a milestone moment, Mr. Schehzad also inaugurated the Real-World Asset (RWA) Tokenization Academy. Launched in partnership with NIC Karachi, IBA CEIF, Barsols Legal Chamber, and Blockanica Technologies, the academy aims to develop local expertise and foster innovation in asset tokenization and blockchain applications.

Industry Experts Highlight Crypto Adoption and Investor Confidence
Prominent speakers included Nasim Beg (Arif Habib Consultancy), Ali Farid Khawaja (CeDAR), Humza Khan (Binance), Ayaz Uqaili (Sindh IT Department), Mohtashim Siddiqui (Barsols Legal & Blockonsultancy), Mufti Farooq, and Naeem Khanani (CEO DigiEstate). The event was co-hosted by Syed Azfar Hussain, Project Director NIC Karachi.
Speakers emphasized Pakistan’s crypto-ready user base, job creation potential, and the critical need for strong investor protections. Panel discussions covered PVARA compliance, the proposed Digital Nation Act, and blockchain-enabled real estate tokenization, with detailed insights from DigiEstate and NextchainX.

Pakistan Eyes Globally Competitive Digital Future
Wrapping up the event, Mr. Schehzad voiced optimism about Pakistan’s digital finance journey. “Pakistan has the adaptability, user base, and investor appetite. What we’re building now is the governance, trust, and infrastructure to scale it,” he concluded.
This summit marked a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s move toward a tech-enabled, regulated, and inclusive digital economy.