Bilal Bin Saqib (Photo credit: X/@Bilalbinsaqib)

In January 2026, Pakistan’s top civilian and military leadership hosted Zachary Witkoff, CEO of the crypto platform World Liberty Financial, for an engagement that closely resembled a state-level visit. While the formal centerpiece was a non-binding letter of intent to explore stablecoin integration for cross-border payments, the high-profile attendance of Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir underscored the event’s deeper geopolitical significance.According to Bloomberg, a group photograph from the event, showing Witkoff flanked by Pakistan’s top leadership, reinforced the quasi-official nature of the engagement. Also present was Bilal Bin Saqib, a central figure in the country’s crypto push, self-described as ‘crypto-bro’, who described the visit as helping to “put Pakistan on the map.”The episode highlights Pakistan’s growing use of digital assets as a diplomatic lever—what Saqib has termed “biplomacy.” By engaging with World Liberty Financial, a platform co-founded by the family of US President Donald Trump, Islamabad appears to be aligning itself with influential figures in Washington’s emerging crypto ecosystem while seeking to deepen ties within Trump’s orbit.At the same time, Pakistan has been viewed as a potential intermediary between the United States and Iran amid rising regional tensions. According to Steve Witkoff, Islamabad has presented a 15-point framework and has been discussed as a possible venue for talks ahead of a US deadline for Iran to reach an agreement or face escalation. Analysts caution that such a role remains contingent on shifting geopolitical dynamics, but note that personal connections within the Trump administration may be shaping the pace of engagement. Trump has also publicly praised Munir in recent months, underscoring the growing personal dimension of the relationship.Observers, including Michael Kugelman, have noted that Pakistan’s outreach—particularly its ties with Zachary Witkoff—may have helped it gain influence in Washington at a time when personal relationships play an outsized role in policymaking.Much of this outreach has been driven by Saqib, who rose rapidly within Pakistan’s policy ecosystem in 2025. He has played a key role in connecting the country with prominent figures in the global crypto industry, including Changpeng Zhao, who has faced regulatory scrutiny in the US, as well as Cathie Wood and Michael Saylor.The diplomatic push coincides with a broader domestic shift. After years of regulatory caution driven by concerns over fraud, money laundering, and financial instability, Pakistan has moved to formalize its approach to digital assets. Authorities have introduced legislation governing virtual assets, established a dedicated regulator, proposed a national crypto reserve, and allocated approximately 2,000 megawatts of power—about 5% of the grid—for crypto mining.The timing also aligns with a tentative improvement in US–Pakistan relations. The two countries are engaging on areas such as energy, critical minerals, and counterterrorism, while trade ties have also progressed, including reduced tariffs on Pakistani exports.Even so, risks remain. Pakistan continues to face obligations to the International Monetary Fund, which has historically taken a cautious view of sovereign crypto initiatives. Regional instability—including potential energy disruptions linked to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz—and the unpredictability of US foreign policy could also affect the trajectory of these efforts.For Saqib, however, the strategy is ultimately economic. He has emphasized the potential of digital assets to build domestic capacity, expand financial inclusion, and reduce Pakistan’s long-term reliance on external financial support.

Charu is carefully picking electronics for her new home. She said, “I have to buy a lot of electronic products. I will put carpet on the floor so I will need a vacuum cleaner. I bought an ac. I am making a play area for Ziana, so I plan to put the ac the there. I found a very good fridge but it is quite expensive. I will buy a few things less to save expenses to buy the required items. I have to cut down on expenses. I also have to get geysers for Ziana and my bathrooms.”

Entry-level consumer electronics prices in India are climbing back to levels last seen six to eight years ago, reversing a long-standing industry trend of making technology progressively more affordable. According to a report by The Economic Times, manufacturers say that they can no longer absorb rising input costs, leaving consumers to bear the full brunt of price increases across smartphones, televisions and large appliances.Even mass-market air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines are set to hit record highs from next month, raising concerns about a demand slowdown in the segments that drive volume for most brands, claims the report. “Prices are hitting record highs,” Kamal Nandi, who heads the appliances business at Godrej Enterprises, told the publication. “There is concern that entry-segment demand could weaken unless a harsh summer boosts sales.”The numbers tell the story starkly. Entry-level 5G smartphones, which were available for under ₹10,000 around Diwali, now retail between ₹13,000 and ₹14,000. Industry executives told the paper they expect prices to cross ₹17,000–18,000 in the next quarter, back to levels last seen in FY21, with some brands privately indicating to trade partners that prices could approach ₹20,000 within two to three months.Televisions and appliances tell a similar story. A 32-inch smart TV that sold for around ₹6,500 last year now goes for ₹8,500 and could touch ₹10,000 by May — matching what consumers paid in 2017–18. A 3-star, 1.5-tonne air conditioner, the default choice for first-time buyers, is set to cost between ₹37,000 and ₹40,000 from April, up sharply from ₹32,000–34,000 last summer.This marks a meaningful break from how the industry has long operated. Electronics prices have historically fallen over time as manufacturers scaled up and component costs dropped, with brands often absorbing whatever residual hikes remained to protect demand at the bottom of the market. That model has broken down. A sustained rise in memory chip prices over the past five to six months, combined with cost pressures from the Gulf conflict and a weakening rupee, has made absorption increasingly untenable.Retailers are feeling it too. Kailash Lakhyani, founder chairman of the All India Mobile Retailers Association, which represents over 150,000 retailers, said that brands including Vivo, Oppo, Samsung and Xiaomi have signalled fresh price increases of up to 10% on select models. Some of the damage is hidden in plain sight. “Some new models from Vivo and Samsung, despite carrying similar specifications to their predecessors, are priced up to 36% higher,” he said.Lakhyani added that Vivo’s sales team has indicated entry-level 5G smartphone prices could reach ₹20,000 by June. Making matters worse, the routine discounts that once softened the blow for buyers have quietly disappeared. “The industry typically sees quarterly price cuts, cashback offers and trade promotions, but these are now largely absent — effectively raising consumer costs by another 10%,” he told The Economic Times. Smartphone and television prices have been rising every 30 to 60 days since November–December.Consumers are already adjusting. Cellphone retailers report growing numbers turning to second-hand and refurbished devices, while others are simply holding off on purchases. The retailers’ association plans to petition the government once again to cut GST on smartphones priced up to ₹20,000 from 18% to 5%, arguing that without some relief, demand at the entry level may not recover on its own.

Pakistan has once again found itself facing the consequences of long-standing support for terror groups, as highlighted in a US Congressional research report dated March 25. The report presents a stark picture of Pakistan as a base for numerous armed and terrorist organisations, some of which have been active since the 1980s.According to the report, these groups fall into different categories—globally focused, Afghanistan-oriented, India-focused, domestic, or sectarian. Twelve of them are designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations under US law, and most follow Islamist extremist ideologies.