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Is Pakistan banning cryptocurrency?

07:19 PM | 17 May, 2023
Is Pakistan banning cryptocurrency?
Source: File Photo

The federal government of Pakistan announced Wednesday that it has decided to halt cryptocurrency services available on the internet in the country in order to prevent unlawful digital currency transactions, and in accordance with the guidelines of Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Ministry of Information Technology have started work on outlawing cryptocurrencies in accordance with the directions.

Dr. Aisha Ghaus Pasha, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue, informed the Senate Standing Committee on Finance that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has also set limits, saying that cryptocurrencies will "never be legalised in Pakistan."

She insisted that "FATF had set a condition that cryptocurrency will not be legalised."

According to SBP Director Sohail Jawad, who agreed with Pasha's opinions, cryptocurrency transactions are "high risk" and won't ever be authorised in Pakistan.

He explained that cryptocurrency is virtual currency and that more than 16,000 different varieties have so far been created, noting that the $2.8 trillion market has since decreased to $1.2 trillion.

Saleem Mandviwalla, a senator for the Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP), expressed concern about the enormous sums of money being invested in the market. 

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU), a financial intelligence body that aids Pakistan in the fight against terrorism financing and money laundering, are working on this, the SBP official said in response to the concerns.

As interest in connected social media content and online exchange transactions rises, there has been a boom in Bitcoin trading and mining in Pakistan.

Up until April 2018, when the government outlawed trading and mining of virtual currencies, cryptocurrency mining was a thriving industry in Pakistan. Even though many mining farms have been closed since this prohibition was put into place, the mining business is still expanding.

The majority of exchanges run on ghost partners and never appear on regulatory radars. The government, however, has been working nonstop to curtail cryptocurrency trading.

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Pakistani rupee exchange rate to US dollar, Euro, Pound, Dirham, and Riyal - 9 Dec 2023

Pakistani rupee remains largely stable against the US dollar, and other currencies in the open market on Saturday.

Dollar Rate in Pakistan Today

On Saturday, the US dollar was being quoted at 283.4 for buying and 285.95 for selling.

Euro comes down to 307 for buying and 310 for selling. British Pound rate remains unchanged at 358.5 for buying, and 362 for selling.

UAE Dirham AED witnessed slight drop and new rate stands at 77.2 whereas the Saudi Riyal remained stable at 76.

Source: Forex Association of Pakistan. (last update 09:00 AM)

Currency Symbol Buying Selling
US Dollar USD 283.4 285.95
Euro EUR 307 307
UK Pound Sterling GBP 358.5 362
U.A.E Dirham AED 77.2 78
Saudi Riyal SAR 76 76.8
Australian Dollar AUD 187.2 189
Bahrain Dinar BHD 755.82 763.82
Canadian Dollar CAD 209 211
China Yuan CNY 39.82 40.22
Danish Krone DKK 41.14 41.54
Hong Kong Dollar HKD 36.37 36.72
Japanese Yen JPY 3.41 3.52
Kuwaiti Dinar KWD 922.14 931.14
Malaysian Ringgit MYR 60.82 61.42
New Zealand Dollar NZD 175.33 177.33
Norwegians Krone NOK 26.12 26.42
Omani Riyal OMR 738.71 746.71
Qatari Riyal QAR 78.07 78.77
Singapore Dollar SGD 211 213
Swedish Korona SEK 27.32 27.62
Swiss Franc CHF 324.5 327
Thai Bhat THB 8.08 8.23

Gold remains under pressure in Pakistan; Check today gold rates here

Gold prices witnessed negative trend in local markets in line with the trend in the international market.

Gold Rates in Pakistan Today - 9 December 2023

On Saturday, the price of a single tola of 24-karat gold stands at Rs217,600, and 10 grams of 24k gold costs Rs186,560.

Single tola of 22 Karat Gold price costs Rs199,465, 21 karat rate per tola costs Rs190, 400 and 18k gold rate is Rs163,200.00 for each tola.

In the global market, gold prices hovers around $2,004 per ounce, after drop of $23.35 on Saturday.

Today Gold Rate in Pakistan

City Gold Silver
Lahore PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Karachi PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Islamabad PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Peshawar PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Quetta PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Sialkot PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Attock PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Gujranwala PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Jehlum PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Multan PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Bahawalpur PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Gujrat PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Nawabshah PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Chakwal PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Hyderabad PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Nowshehra PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Sargodha PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Faisalabad PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530
Mirpur PKR 217,600 PKR 2,530

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