Pakistan’s Shocking Bitcoin Mining Plan: Power Surplus Turns into Digital Gold! 💰⚡

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In a move that could only be described as “what could possibly go wrong?”, Pakistan has decided to take its surplus electricity—yes, that’s right, the stuff that’s been sitting around like an unwanted guest at a party—and channel it into Bitcoin (BTC) mining and artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. It’s like turning leftover pizza into gourmet cuisine, only with more electricity and fewer toppings.

This grand initiative, driven by the government’s sudden realization that they have more energy than they know what to do with, aims to transform a long-standing headache into a veritable gold mine. Or at least a Bitcoin mine, which is sort of the same thing if you squint hard enough.

From Surplus Power to Profits: Pakistan’s Bitcoin Mining Strategy

According to the ever-reliable Reuters, this move is a direct response to Pakistan’s ongoing struggle with surplus electricity generation capacity. It’s a bit like having a fridge full of food but deciding to eat instant noodles instead because, well, they’re cheaper and easier. The situation has been made worse by the fact that people are turning to alternative energy sources, leaving the grid with more power than a toddler on a sugar high.

Bilal Bin Saqib, the chief of the newly minted Pakistan Crypto Council, has confirmed that talks with several mining firms are underway. Apparently, they’re looking to set up shop in regions where the electricity flows like a river—if that river were made of kilowatts and dreams.

“There’s at least 10,000 megawatts of surplus energy under government control that can be used to mine Bitcoin,” Bitcoin Pakistan noted, probably while rubbing their hands together in glee.

Meanwhile, this announcement came hot on the heels of DAWN reporting on the power division’s plans to devise an electricity tariff. The aim? To absorb all that excess power and reduce those pesky capacity payments—without relying on subsidies, which is like trying to bake a cake without flour. This tariff framework is crucial for supporting the mining initiative, ensuring that the power is as affordable as a cup of tea at a roadside stall.

Notably, these plans represent a dramatic shift from Pakistan’s historically cautious stance on digital assets. Just a couple of years ago, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Ministry of IT and Telecom were busy banning cryptocurrencies like they were the latest fad diet. Aisha Ghaus Pasha, the then-Minister of State for Finance and Revenue, declared that they would never legalize or permit them as a medium of exchange—because who needs innovation when you have tradition?

Yet, nearly two years later, BeInCrypto reported that Pakistan had done a complete about-face. They’ve ramped up efforts to regulate and integrate blockchain technology and digital assets into their financial landscape, like a cat that suddenly decides it likes water. In line with this, the government established the Pakistan Crypto Council in March 2025, presumably after a long and arduous debate over whether to call it the “Crypto Council” or the “Council of Crypto.”

In fact, just this week, the government appointed Binance’s founder and former CEO, Changpeng Zhao, as the council’s Strategic Advisor. This move reflects international confidence in Pakistan’s blockchain future, or at least a hope that they won’t trip over their own feet while trying to run.

“Together with Changpeng Zhao, they’re building the future of finance, empowering millions, and placing Pakistan on the global Web3 map,” an analyst wrote on X (formerly Twitter), probably while sipping a latte and wearing a turtleneck.

With a regulatory framework taking shape and global expertise on board, the country could very well carve out a significant role in the digital economy, blending innovation with pragmatism—like a well-balanced diet of chocolate and kale.

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2025-04-10 14:49