Pakistan Allocates 2000 MW of Electricity to Power Bitcoin Mining and Artificial Intelligence Data Centers

The federal government has announced the allocation of 2,000 megawatts of electricity in the first phase of a national initiative to power Bitcoin mining

The federal government has allocated 2,000 megawatts of electricity in the first phase of an initiative to power Bitcoin mining and Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centres in the country, the Finance Division said on Sunday.

The initiative, which is being spearheaded by the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) - a government body operating under the Ministry of Finance, is part of a broader strategy to monetize surplus electricity, create high-tech jobs, attract billions of dollars in foreign direct investment, and generate billions of dollars for the government, it added.

This strategic allocation marks a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s digital transformation journey, unlocking economic potential by turning excess energy into innovation, investment, and international revenue, said Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

Pakistan is uniquely positioned ”both geographically and economically ”to become a global hub for data centres. As a digital bridge between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, Pakistan offers the most strategic location in the world for data flow and digital infrastructure.

Since the inception of the Pakistan Crypto Council, there has been tremendous interest from global Bitcoin miners and data infrastructure companies. Several international firms have already visited the country for exploratory discussions, and following this landmark announcement, more global players are expected to visit in the coming weeks.

Pakistan’s underutilised power generation capacity is now being repurposed into a high-value digital asset. AI data centres and Bitcoin mining operations, known for their consistent and heavy energy usage, provide an ideal use case for this surplus. Redirecting idle energy, especially from plants operating below capacity, allows Pakistan to convert a long-standing financial liability into a sustainable, revenue-generating opportunity.

“This initiative is a testament to the government's commitment to unlocking new economic potential and forging strategic partnerships for the nation's prosperity,” the statement said.

“With proper regulation, transparency, and international collaboration, we envision Pakistan becoming a global crypto and AI powerhouse,” said Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council.

This energy-backed digital transformation not only unlocks high-value investment (billions of dollars in FDI) but enables the government to generate foreign exchange in dollar through Bitcoin mining.

Offering stable and affordable energy creates a highly competitive environment for Pakistan compared to regional counterparts like India and Singapore, where rapidly increasing power costs and land scarcity limit scalability.

In the global context, the demand for AI data centres is staggering, with a shortfall of over 90 percent. As the world's largest consumer of Bitcoin, China's miners alone demand approximately 80 GW of power.

Despite this, only 15 GW of data centre infrastructure is currently operational worldwide, presenting a massive opportunity for countries like Pakistan to leverage their surplus power, land, and emerging regulatory framework.

The country’s digital connectivity has also been significantly strengthened by the landing of the world’s largest submarine internet cable. The Africa-2 Cable Project, a 45,000-kilometre global network connecting 33 countries through 46 landing stations, has now landed in Pakistan.

With a population of over 250 million and more than 40 million crypto users, Pakistan is poised for leadership as a regional hub for digital services.

Establishing local AI data centres will not only address growing concerns around data sovereignty but will also enhance cybersecurity, improve digital service delivery, and empower national capabilities in AI and cloud infrastructure.