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Will cryptocurrency ever be legalised in Pakistan?

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2 years ago

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Pakistan has decided to suspend cryptocurrency services available on the internet in the country to prevent illegal digital currency transactions as per the guidelines of the global anti-terror financing watchdog, the federal government said Wednesday.

Adhering to the directives, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Ministry of Information Technology have initiated work on banning cryptocurrencies.

Briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha asserted that cryptocurrency will “never be legalised in Pakistan”, revealing that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has also imposed restrictions.

“FATF had set a condition that cryptocurrency will not be legalised,” she maintained.

Endorsing Pasha’s views, SBP Director Sohail Jawad said that crypto transactions involve “high risk”; therefore, it will never be granted permission in Pakistan.

“Cyrtocurrency is virtual currency and more than 16,000 types have been formed so far,” he said, adding that the $2.8 trillion market has now shrunk to $1.2 trillion.

Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Senator Saleem Mandviwalla raised concerns over the billions of dollars invested in the market. Addressing the concerns, the SBP official said that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) — a financial intelligence unit which helps Pakistan to fight against terrorism financing and money laundering — are working on this.

Pakistan has seen a boom in trading and mining cryptocurrency, with interest increasing in thousands of views of related social media videos and online exchange transactions.

Cryptocurrency mining flourished in Pakistan until April 2018 when the government banned trading and mining virtual currencies. There is still a growing mining industry despite the fact that many mining farms have been shut down since this ban was implemented.

Most exchanges operate through ghost partners and never show on the regulatory radar. However, the government has been making continuous efforts to stop crypto trading.

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SIFC Initiates Carbon Market Initiative: Pakistan Pursues Green Investment at COP29

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6 hours ago

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Pakistan has introduced its inaugural Carbon Market Policy at the 29th Conference of the Parties in Baku to attain climate objectives and encourage green investments.

The policy seeks to enhance investment in the energy, agriculture, and forestry sectors.

Through the initiatives of the Special Investment Facilitation Council, Pakistan has developed a transparent carbon market framework that adheres to international norms.

The policy conforms to international standards and establishes a definite strategic orientation.

Pakistan’s carbon market policy promotes environmental conservation, economic development, and sustainability.
It promotes the use of eco-friendly technologies by enterprises and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The policy represents a substantial advancement in the worldwide effort to combat climate change. It encourages international investors and organizations to participate in Pakistan’s carbon market.

SIFC aims to mitigate environmental concerns while promoting economic growth via the Global Carbon Market.

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When the benchmark hits 109,881 points, the PSX-100 index sets a new record.

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7 hours ago

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During the first hour of trading today, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) made a stunning comeback, moving from negative to positive territory. After losing 1,400 points, the market recovered and gained 800 points.

Setting a new high, the benchmark KSE-100 Index jumped 827 points to a record-breaking 109,881 points. Restored investor confidence was also reflected in the market’s return to its crucial levels of 108,000 and 109,000 points.

Supportive government policies and recent strong economic data are credited by experts with this success, as they have improved market mood.

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The Transformation Model of Saudi Arabia: Aurangzeb Stresses Policy Continuity and Takes Advice From KSA.

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3 days ago

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The Saudi Fund for Development, acting on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has extended the three-billion dollar deposit’s maturity date by one year, to December 5, 2024.

The specified sum is now in the custody of the State Bank of Pakistan.

The extension of the deposit period is an extension of the assistance that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been giving to Pakistan, which will help to bolster the nation’s foreign exchange reserves and boost its economic development.

The USD 3 billion deposit agreement was first signed with SFD in 2021 and then extended in 2022 and 2023 following the royal directions that demonstrate the two brotherly nations’ continued strong ties.

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