Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League (N) President Muhammad Nawaz Sharif met Binance founder and ex-CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) in a high-profile meeting to cement the digital future of Pakistan.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council, were also present at the meeting.
Changpeng Zhao was welcomed as the Strategic Advisor to the Pakistan Crypto Council, marking a position that reflects Pakistan's rising ambitions of becoming a regional hub for Web3 technologies and digital finance. Both Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz welcomed Zhao's appointment, terming it a critical move towards positioning Pakistan at the vanguard of the global digital economy.
In the meeting, the topics of focus were Pakistan's transition to a knowledge-driven digital economy, innovation using emerging technologies, and empowering the youth in blockchain, digital assets, and global entrepreneurship.
CZ praised Nawaz Sharif's visionary approach in advancing emerging technologies and highlighted the huge potential of young Pakistanis in digital capabilities and blockchain innovation.
Changpeng Zhao spoke on the changing scene of blockchain and emerging technologies and complimented the nation's young generation for their ability in tech-related areas. Nawaz Sharif stressed that Pakistan needs to adopt rapidly transforming technologies to remain competitive in today's world and said his intention is to impart IT skills to the youth so that they could join the international digital economy.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz added that Punjab is fully prepared to adopt future technologies and shift focus to knowledge-based innovation, which she believes will guide the new generation towards digital enterprise and innovation. She reiterated that the provincial government is committed to laying the foundation for a digitally empowered Pakistan.
CZ thanked Nawaz Sharif for the warm hospitality and expressed confidence in Pakistan’s digital journey. He said that Pakistan has the right mix of youthful energy and untapped potential to make a mark in the global digital space.
