Pakistan is reportedly planning a policy shift to utilize its surplus electricity for digital infrastructure projects. This new direction aims to harness energy resources specifically for the development of certain digital technologies within the country.
Energy Policy and Digital Transformation
According to local sources, structural issues in Pakistan’s energy sector, such as high electricity tariffs and a continuously growing surplus capacity, have laid the groundwork for this new transformation policy. The efficient use of excess electricity aims to enhance economic opportunities and improve the return on energy investments.
Bilal Bin Saqib, the President of the Pakistan Crypto Council and an advisor to the Finance Minister, commented on the situation. He stated that following discussions, contacts have been established with various digital infrastructure firms.
Bilal Bin Saqib: “We welcome companies visiting Pakistan for digital infrastructure assessment. We believe now is the right time.”
Strategic Steps and New Advisor
The government’s recent appointment of Changpeng Zhao, an experienced figure in the crypto field, as a strategic advisor reflects the region’s growing interest in digital transformation based on cryptocurrency. This appointment is seen as an effort to accelerate behavioral changes towards crypto adoption.
Bilal Bin Saqib invited international firms to evaluate Pakistan’s digital infrastructure potential during a Bloomberg interview last March. He noted that channeling the current surplus electricity into areas such as Bitcoin $84,918 mining could benefit the national economy.
Additionally, the official addressed the recent changes in U.S. cryptocurrency asset regulations. All these steps are interpreted as part of Pakistan’s economic and technological transformation process.
The anticipated policies are expected to address inefficiencies in the energy sector while enabling increased investment in digital technologies.