Pakistan Earmarks 2,000 Megawatts of Electricity for Bitcoin Mining and AI Data Centers

In a significant move to drive Pakistan's digital transformation, the government has earmarked 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity in the first phase of a national strategy aimed at supporting Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence (AI) data centres.

The government of Pakistan has allocated 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity in the first phase of a national strategy to support Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence (AI) data centres.

This initiative is being spearheaded by the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), a government body formed earlier this year to regulate and integrate blockchain technology and digital assets into the nation's financial ecosystem.

The Finance Division said in a statement that the initiative is part of a broader strategy to monetise surplus electricity, create high-tech jobs, attract billions of dollars in foreign direct investment, and generate billions of dollars for the government.

"This strategic energy allocation marks a significant moment in Pakistan's digital transformation, where we are converting excess energy into innovation, investment, and international revenue streams," said Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

Pakistan, a country that ranked 3rd in the Global Crypto Adoption Index, has 20 million active cryptocurrency users and $20bn + in crypto transactions.

Currently, the country ranks in the top 10 in terms of optimal crypto adoption. With $35bn in annual remittances, the country is poised to benefit further from this technology.

In March this year, the government constituted the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) to "regulate and integrate blockchain technology and digital assets" into the nation's financial ecosystem.

Entrepreneur Bilal Bin Saqib was appointed as its chief executive officer.

"Pakistan is uniquely positioned—both geographically and economically—to become a global hub for data centres," the Finance Division said.

It said that since the inception of the PCC, 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.

"This initiative is focused on allocating 2,000MW of electricity in the first phase to support both Bitcoin mining and AI data centres—both known for their consistent, heavy energy usage present ideal use cases for this surplus.

"Redirecting idle energy—especially from plants operating below capacity—enables Pakistan to convert a long-standing financial liability into a sustainable, revenue-generating opportunity.

"This initiative is a testament to the government's vision for economic diversification and technological advancement.

"We are creating a new economic frontier that will drive jobs, investment, and generate billions of dollars in foreign exchange for the nation.

"With proper regulation, transparency, and international collaboration, we can transform Pakistan into a global crypto and AI powerhouse.

"This energy-backed digital transformation unlocks high-value investment opportunities while enabling the government to generate foreign exchange in US dollars through Bitcoin mining.

"And as regulations evolve, we can begin accumulating Bitcoin directly into a national wallet—a monumental shift from selling power in Pakistani rupees to leveraging digital assets for economic stability and technological leadership.

"Furthermore, offering stable and affordable energy presents a highly competitive environment compared to regional counterparts like India and Singapore, where rising power costs and land scarcity limit scalability.

"This initiative is a strategic response to the global surge in demand for AI data centres.

"As global organisations increasingly seek to expand their digital footprint, they are facing a critical bottleneck—a shortfall in data centre capacity.

"Statistics highlight this urgency. While the world's leading technology companies and financial institutions require over 100 gigawatts (GW) of data centre capacity to support their AI and cloud computing services, the current global supply stands at approximately 15GW.

"This massive shortfall creates an unprecedented opportunity for countries like Pakistan with surplus power, land, and an emerging regulatory framework.

"This initiative is a testament to the government's vision for economic diversification and technological advancement.

"We are creating a new economic frontier that will drive jobs, investment, and generate billions of dollars in foreign exchange for the nation.

"With proper regulation, transparency, and international collaboration, we can transform Pakistan into a global crypto and AI powerhouse.

"This initiative is focused on allocating 2,000MW of electricity in the first phase to support both Bitcoin mining and AI data centres - both known for their consistent, heavy energy usage present optimal use cases for this surplus.

"Redirecting idle energy - especially from plants operating below capacity - enables Pakistan to convert a long-standing financial liability into a sustainable, revenue-generating opportunity.

"This initiative is part of a broader, multi-stage digital infrastructure rollout. Future developments are expected to include renewable energy-powered facilities - leveraging Pakistan's immense wind (50,000MW potential in the Gharo-Keti Bandar corridor), solar, and hydropower resources - as well as strategic international partnerships with leading blockchain and AI companies, and the establishment of fintech and innovation hubs.

"These efforts will be complemented by proposed incentives such as tax