Pakistan Allocates 2,000 MW of Electricity to Bitcoin Mining and AI Data Centers

The initiative, led by the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) under the Ministry of Finance, seeks to transform underutilized power capacity into a high-value economic asset.

Pakistan has allocated 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity for Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence (AI) data centers in the first phase of a national strategy to monetize surplus energy, attract foreign investment, and become a digital hub, the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) has announced.

The initiative, rolling out through the Ministry of Finance, aims to transform underutilized power capacity into a high-value economic asset, pivoting from selling kilowatt-hours to generating U.S. dollar-denominated income and jobs in a high-growth sector.

"This is a pivotal moment in Pakistan's digital transformation journey," said Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb. "Instead of selling electricity in local currency, we are converting excess energy into innovation, investment, and international revenue."

Positioned as a digital bridge between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, Pakistan has already drawn interest from major global Bitcoin miners and AI firms, who are set to visit the country in the coming weeks, according to a statement by the Finance Division.

"Since the inception of the Pakistan Crypto Council, there has been tremendous interest from global Bitcoin miners and data infrastructure companies in investing in Pakistan's emerging digital economy," the press release said.

Highlighting the economic potential, Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of the PCC, noted that repurposing surplus power, particularly from plants that are operating below capacity, into AI and crypto endeavors could generate foreign exchange.

"This energy-backed digital transformation will enable the government to generate foreign exchange in USD through Bitcoin mining, and we are open to discussing the creation of a national Bitcoin wallet to serve as a long-term macroeconomic hedge," Saqib added.

The country's ambitions in the digital arena are further supported by the recent landing of the 45,000-kilometer Africa-2 submarine internet cable, boosting bandwidth and redundancy—key requirements for data-heavy AI operations.

Moreover, with a population of 250 million, including 40 million crypto users, provides a strong foundation for the development of a regional tech ecosystem.

The 2,000MW allocation is the first phase of a larger, multi-stage rollout of digital infrastructure. Future developments are expected to include facilities powered by renewable energy, drawing from Pakistan's wind, solar, and hydropower resources, as well as strategic partnerships with leading blockchain and AI firms.

Plans also include the creation of fintech and innovation hubs, backed by proposed incentives such as tax holidays, customs duty exemptions on imported equipment, and reduced tax rates for AI infrastructure developers.