Islamabad, June 2, 2025 – The legitimacy of the recently established Pakistan Crypto Council came under scrutiny during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology, as several lawmakers expressed reservations about the Council’s legal standing and procedural transparency.
The session, chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, specifically addressed the formation and scope of the Pakistan Crypto Council, a body launched to oversee the growing crypto ecosystem in the country. Multiple senators voiced concern that the Council had been formed without prior consultation with Parliament, raising questions about its constitutional validity.
Senator Mohammad Humayun Mohmand queried whether the Council could be legally established through executive orders, bypassing the legislature. Lawmakers also questioned which ministry had jurisdiction over the Pakistan Crypto Council, with many arguing that it should come under the Ministry of IT rather than the Finance Ministry.
Secretary IT, Zarrar Hasham Khan, clarified that the Ministry of Information Technology only offered technical input in formulating the Council’s terms of reference. However, dissatisfaction persisted, prompting the Committee to defer the matter and summon the Finance Ministry for a detailed explanation in the next meeting.
Meanwhile, the Committee reviewed progress in Pakistan’s IT sector, noting a record $3.22 billion in export remittances for FY 2023–24 — a 24.15% year-on-year increase. The Ministry also briefed senators on the Pakistan Digital Authority’s efforts to digitize services nationwide.
In discussions related to governance, concerns were raised about the composition of the Digital Nation Commission, particularly its leadership by the Prime Minister and inclusion of provincial Chief Ministers. Senator Kamran Murtaza warned that without a consensus mechanism, such a setup could infringe on provincial autonomy.
The Pakistan Crypto Council issue resurfaced later in the meeting, with members insisting on transparency and parliamentary oversight, given the sensitive nature of crypto regulation and its financial implications.
Officials also provided updates on the successful Digital Foreign Direct Investment (DFDI) Forum, held in Islamabad in April, which attracted representatives from 40 countries and yielded nearly $700 million in investment commitments.
The Standing Committee reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that bodies like the Pakistan Crypto Council operate within a robust legal and policy framework, particularly as the crypto sector gains momentum in Pakistan.