Shehbaz updates Nawaz on Pahalgam attack

LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Sunday briefed PMLN President Muhammad Nawaz Sharif about the evolving situation following the Pahalgam attack.

Shehbaz visited Jati Umra to meet his elder brother. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was also present in the meeting.

According to news reports, the prime minister said if India resorted to any aggression, Pakistan will respond with full force, reports Sabah. He said the future of the country was bright and “we are here to defend our homeland”. Shehbaz said the Pahalgam incident appeared to be a pre-planned drama, and India had a history of staging such false flag operations in the past. Nawaz emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to peace in the region.

“Pakistan desires peace across South Asia and strongly condemns all forms of terrorism,” he said.

APP adds: Meanwhile, the World Liberty Financial (WLF) Sunday signed a landmark Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) to accelerate blockchain innovation, stablecoin adoption and decentralized finance (DeFi) integration across Pakistan.

A WLF delegation met with Pakistan’s leadership including the prime minister, chief of the army staff, deputy prime minister, minister of information and minister of defence to formalize cooperation, marking a major step toward positioning Pakistan as a global leader in the digital finance revolution.

World Liberty Financial (WLF) — the decentralized finance (DeFi) platform backed by the US President Donald Trump — said Pakistan’s proactive approach demonstrated its commitment to embracing the next wave of financial innovation.

The government has signaled plans to very soon announce comprehensive crypto legalization policies, further strengthening Pakistan’s position as one of the fastest-growing crypto markets in the world.

The Letter of Intent was signed during the meeting of World Liberty Financial and Pakistan Crypto Council. The meeting included the Finance Minister of Pakistan, CEO of the Council, Governor State Bank of Pakistan, Chairman SECP and Federal Secretary for IT.

The Scope of Cooperation between Pakistan Crypto Council and World Liberty Financial outlines collaboration in key areas including launching regulatory sandboxes for blockchain financial product testing, facilitating the responsible growth of DeFi protocols, exploring tokenization of real-world assets like real estate and commodities, expanding stablecoin applications for remittances and trade, and providing strategic advisory on blockchain infrastructure and global regulatory trends.

Pakistan offers one of the world’s most promising digital economies, with over 64% of its population under the age of 30. The country ranks among the top in global crypto adoption, with an estimated $300 billion in annual crypto transactions and 25 million active crypto users.

CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council Bilal Bin Saqib added: “Our collaboration with World Liberty Financial is more than just a partnership—it’s a strategic move to empower our young population and integrate Pakistan into the future of global finance.”

World Liberty Financial leadership praised Pakistan’s dynamism, stating, “Pakistan’s energy, vision, and talent make it one of the most exciting places in the world to build the future of decentralized finance.”

Meanwhile, in a message on the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said as the world marks the day, Pakistan joins the international community in reaffirming its commitment to the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases, and to promoting the well-being of every worker across all sectors.

This year’s theme, “Revolutionizing Health and Safety: The Role of AI and Digitalization at Work,” invites us to reflect on the opportunities and responsibilities brought forth by technological advancement. As workplaces across the globe, including in Pakistan, embrace digital systems, it becomes imperative to ensure that these innovations serve to enhance the safety, health, and dignity of our workers.

“The Government of Pakistan remains committed to strengthening frameworks that protect workers’ rights and safety.”