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In a bold move to harness surplus energy and modernize its digital economy, Pakistan has allocated 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity to support Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence (AI) data centres, the Ministry of Finance announced.
The allocation marks the first phase of a nationwide digital infrastructure initiative aimed at monetizing Pakistan’s excess power capacity.
The strategy, spearheaded by the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) – a government-backed body – is designed to capitalize on the country’s surplus energy production while creating high-tech employment and attracting foreign investment.
With the rise of solar power across the country, more consumers have shifted to off-grid solutions to reduce electricity costs.
This shift has left Pakistan with surplus generation capacity, causing strain on the already struggling energy sector. Officials believe that investing in power-intensive industries like crypto mining and AI will help balance the demand-supply gap.
The PCC aims to expand the initiative in subsequent phases, potentially scaling the power allocation and infrastructure footprint based on performance and investor response.
The council also intends to ensure compliance with environmental standards, particularly regarding energy efficiency and heat management. Pakistan’s pivot towards emerging technologies comes amid global trends where countries with abundant energy resources, such as El Salvador and Kazakhstan, have already integrated Bitcoin mining into their national strategies.
