Pakistan’s higher education sector is preparing for the growing importance of cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital assets, but dedicated academic and technical training programs are still waiting for further policy guidance.
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has informed the National Assembly that it has not yet received the required direction from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) to develop specialised courses in digital asset management.
Dedicated Digital Asset Courses Still Pending
The issue came under discussion in the National Assembly after Dr. Sharmila Faruqui asked about the government’s plans for education and skills development in the emerging virtual assets sector.
According to the government’s response, a proposed joint initiative between HEC and the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) has not yet been launched.
HEC said it is waiting for policy direction from MoITT before moving ahead with a coordinated programme focused on digital asset management.
Pakistan Has Established a Virtual Asset Regulator
While specialised education programmes are still under consideration, Pakistan has already moved forward with a regulatory framework for virtual assets.
According to the government, the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) has been established as a separate statutory body under the Virtual Assets Act, 2026.
It’s the duty of the authority to regulate virtual asset service providers and make sure businesses in the sector adhere to legal and financial obligations.
It is also responsible for consumer protection, responsible innovation, anti-money laundering compliance and anti-counter-terrorism financing measures.
Blockchain Businesses Can Test New Ideas
The Virtual Assets Act has also introduced a regulatory sandbox for eligible blockchain and virtual asset businesses.
Under this system, selected companies can test their products, services and business models in a controlled environment while remaining under regulatory supervision.
The government said PVARA has already issued guidelines for the sandbox and launched an initiative focused on asset reference tokenisation. Applications for participation are currently being reviewed.
Universities Can Still Offer Related Courses
Although a dedicated HEC-NAVTTC programme has not been started, universities are not completely restricted from teaching subjects related to emerging technologies.
HEC has clarified that universities can introduce programmes, specialisations and interdisciplinary courses covering areas such as blockchain and other emerging technologies through the existing curriculum approval process.
This means individual universities may develop relevant academic offerings even while a broader national training programme remains pending.
What Happens Next?
The government has established the basic regulatory structure for Pakistan’s virtual asset sector, but education and workforce development have not yet reached the same stage.
A clear policy direction from the IT Ministry could allow HEC and NAVTTC to move forward with specialised training and courses in digital asset management.
For now, students and professionals interested in cryptocurrency, blockchain and related technologies should check individual universities and recognised training institutions for available programmes rather than assuming that a nationwide HEC-approved course has already been launched.
Note: The information above is based on the government’s response and details provided in the source material. It does not confirm that a dedicated nationwide HEC cryptocurrency or blockchain programme is currently open for admission.