Finance minister highlights regulated virtual assets, climate action priorities

ISLAMABAD, Sep 22 (APP):Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, highlighted Pakistan’s transition towards a regulated virtual-assets framework and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to climate action and implementation of its national climate priorities at international events in New York.

Addressing the “United Nations Digital Cooperation Day 2026 – Blockchain and the Tokenized Future: Sovereign Choices and Safeguards for Next-Gen DPI” in New York, the minister emphasized that tokenization must address real economic needs, including cheaper remittances, SME financing, sovereign debt, and broader financial access, according to a press release issued by the finance ministry here Tuesday.

He stressed that private-sector innovation should be supported by strong state safeguards, inclusive digital infrastructure, and international cooperation, with emerging economies fully involved in shaping global standards.

The minister also spoke at the launch of the COP31 Action Agenda and expressed Pakistan’s full support for the agenda, noting its strong alignment with the country’s national climate priorities and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 3.0.

He highlighted Pakistan’s acute climate vulnerability and emphasized shared priorities including clean energy and electrification, renewable-energy expansion, energy-efficient buildings, climate-resilient cities, climate education and public awareness, food security, and climate-resilient agriculture.

Welcoming the proposed Climate Implementation Bridge as a mechanism to translate NDC commitments into investable and bankable projects, he stressed that the principal challenge is no longer the formulation of plans, but their effective implementation.

He commended the agenda’s clearly defined action points and key performance indicators, describing it as practical, impact-oriented, and focused on measurable results.