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Pakistan is making significant preparations to utilize its surplus electricity, driven by high electricity tariffs and increasing renewable energy production. Bilal Bin Saqib, an advisor to the country’s finance minister and the CEO of the recently established Pakistan Cryptocurrency Council, announced that discussions are underway for Bitcoin 
$109,461 mining and AI data centers to consume this excess electricity. According to Saqib, the locations for these data centers will be determined based on the regions where the electricity surplus is concentrated.
Using Surplus Electricity for Bitcoin Mining and AI
Pakistan has struggled with electricity production imbalances for years, and now a novel approach is being taken to address this issue. During periods when electricity supply exceeds demand, the surplus will be utilized for energy-intensive activities like Bitcoin mining. This strategy aims to not only make more efficient use of existing infrastructure but also to create new investment opportunities for the country.
According to Bilal Bin Saqib, discussions have already commenced with certain mining companies. The Pakistan Cryptocurrency Council will decide on the locations of mining facilities after identifying areas with surplus electricity. The initiatives will not be limited to Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies; AI-based data processing centers are also included in the scope.
Blockchain Initiatives Accelerated by Political Shift
Pakistan made headlines last month by forming a Cryptocurrency Council to lead initiatives in the crypto and Blockchain sectors. This step appears to aim for the country to take a more active role in the growing global Blockchain competition. According to Council President Saqib, this transformation was also spurred by Donald Trump’s re-election in the United States, which has influenced many countries to reshape their strategies regarding cryptocurrencies.
In a previous interview with Bloomberg, Saqib expressed that Pakistan aims to be a leading nation rather than one on the sidelines. He stated that despite the lack of clear regulations in the cryptocurrency market, Pakistan is among the top ten countries in the world for adoption. There are plans to create regulatory sandboxes to assess this potential.
Reports from earlier this week indicated that Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the co-founder and former CEO of Binance, has joined Pakistan’s Cryptocurrency Council as a strategic advisor. CZ confirmed this development through a post on social media. It is known that Zhao currently provides advisory services to multiple governments, both officially and unofficially.
CZ’s involvement could enhance Pakistan’s visibility in international cryptocurrency circles. It may also provide the government with technical and strategic advantages as it seeks to attract foreign investments despite regulatory shortcomings. Zhao is recognized for his statements emphasizing the potential of Blockchain solutions to improve efficiency in public services.
