Pakistan will ban cryptocurrency services operating in the country and never legalize crypto trading, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Aisha Ghaus Pasha said at a session of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue on May 16, according to multiple local media reports. Other officials, including State Bank of Pakistan Director Sohail Jawad, spoke in favor of the decision.
Pakistan from its gray list in October. The gray list contains countries the body considers deficient in Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing measures but that are working with it to remedy their shortcomings. The SBP and the Information and Technology Ministry were drafting the legislation for the ban, according to reports.
Other officials, including State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Director Sohail Jawad, spoke in favor of the decision. Pasha said banning crypto was one of the requirements set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which removed Pakistan from its gray list in October.