Business Desk 
Apr 10, 2025
In a move to leverage excess power capacity to turn on a new economic corridor, Pakistan will reportedly allocate part of its surplus electricity to Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence (AI) data centres.
The allocation of excess power was disclosed by the head of Pakistan's Crypto Council (PCC) and adviser to the finance minister on Wednesday, Reuters reported.
It was also learned that the country has been in talks with several mining firms.
This development comes as the country battles economic hurdles, including rising electricity tariffs and spare power generation capacity.
The massive nationwide adoption of solar energy solutions is said to have aggravated this issue, as citizens are increasingly turning to alternative energy sources to escape the burden of high power tariffs.
PCC CEO Bilal Bin Saqib noted that the location of the mining centre will be finalised following the confirmed availability of the electricity surplus in specific regions.
Binance founder and a cryptocurrency geek Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has recently been appointed as the strategic advisor to the council.
His role in Pakistan's crypto council involves maintaining blockchain infrastructure, advising on regulatory frameworks, and assisting with national initiatives, such as digital currency, mining, and youth education in relevant technologies.
