The Pakistani government sees mining as a solution to balance the national power grid: Binance founder chosen as strategic advisor.
According to Reuters, Pakistan has announced a plan to allocate excess electricity from the national grid to Bitcoin mining operations and artificial intelligence data centers. The initiative was revealed by Bilal Bin Saqib, advisor to the Ministry of Finance and member of Pakistan’s Cryptocurrency Council.
In a March 25 interview with Bloomberg, Saqib invited international companies to explore the country’s potential for mining. “We welcome companies to visit Pakistan to evaluate the opportunities for Bitcoin mining,” Saqib stated.
Bitcoin mining as a solution for surplus energy
Pakistan’s energy sector has faced several challenges in recent years, marked by high energy prices and a persistent overcapacity in production. The growing adoption of solar panels by consumers seeking to reduce energy costs has further complicated national grid demand forecasts and reduced industrial consumption. In this context, the government is looking for ways to turn excess power generation into economically productive activity.
According to Saqib, the location of mining facilities will be based on regional availability of excess electricity. He noted that several provinces already display consistent oversupply patterns, which can support localized mining operations without overloading the energy grid.
Based on estimates from Ember Energy, Pakistan generates 59% of its electricity from fossil fuels and 41% from clean sources, a share above the global average of 39%. Additionally, the country produces 3% of its electricity from solar and wind energy.
Changpeng Zhao as advisor
Recently, Pakistan appointed Changpeng Zhao (CZ), founder of the Binance exchange, as strategic advisor to the national Cryptocurrency Council. According to documents reviewed by Reuters, Zhao’s advisory role will include supporting blockchain infrastructure, guiding regulatory frameworks, and assisting national crypto-related initiatives.
Zhao’s inclusion in the advisory board is part of a broader institutional push. His involvement will extend to regulatory development, contributing to the creation of sandbox environments that allow fintech startups and digital asset firms to operate under limited supervision while policies are refined. According to Saqib, Pakistan has between 15 and 20 million cryptocurrency users.
Energy diversification
Pakistan’s plan reflects a growing trend among countries with excess energy capacity to use Bitcoin mining as a buyer for unused electricity. Saqib emphasized the country’s ambition to diversify the use of surplus energy, citing AI data centers as a parallel infrastructure.
Reportedly, discussions are underway with several mining companies to determine the required infrastructure, energy purchase agreements, and compliance protocols. Final site selection and partner announcements are pending the completion of evaluations on regional energy availability and compliance with new technical standards.
