Pakistan presents digital assets, AI vision for financial inclusion at UN forum

Bilal Bin Saqib from Pakistan, delivered a keynote address at the United Nations 81th session for Social Business, Youth and Technology Forum highlighting the potential of artificial intelligence and tokenization to expand financial inclusion in the developing world, reported 24News HD TV.

The opening session of the forum was attended by global leaders and prominent personalities, including UN General Assembly President Dr Khalilur Rahman, the Prime Minister of Bhutan and Nobel Peace Prize honoree Professor Muhammad Yunus.

Addressing the forum, Bilal Bin Saqib said AI and tokenization could become powerful tools for promoting financial inclusion in developing countries and technology alone was not sufficient to ensure financial inclusion.

Saqib said around 1.3 billion young people worldwide remain outside the formal financial system, while nearly 900 million financially excluded people have access to mobile phones, highlighting the potential of digital technology to expand access to financial services.

He said Pakistan had established a clear regulatory framework for digital assets, with significant developments following the Virtual Assets Act 2026.

According to Saqib, Pakistan has introduced a regulatory sandbox and licensing system for virtual assets, while the number of virtual asset users in the country has surpassed 40 million.

He said Pakistan aimed to move beyond being merely a consumer of technology and sought to become a creator and innovator in the sector.

Saqib stressed that the Global South must shape its own technological and financial future, adding that the effective combination of technology and regulation could pave the way for meaningful financial inclusion.

He further called for the use of emerging technologies to address poverty and unemployment, saying young innovators should focus on developing new solutions to pressing economic challenges.

Through its participation at the UN forum, Pakistan presented its vision of leveraging digital assets, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to promote financial inclusion and empower young people.