Pakistan’s government is seeking to harness unused energy for Bitcoin mining and AI data centers, a plan which has encountered resistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Pakistan’s Digital Assets Minister Bilal Bin Saqib met with U.S. digital assets officials at the White House to discuss these plans during a meeting involving former President Trump’s Council on Digital Assets. This initiative seeks to utilize surplus electricity, potentially amounting to 2,000 megawatts, for Bitcoin mining and AI data centers. The aim is to convert unused energy into economic value. Saqib has also emphasized the creation of a Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA), which will oversee crypto exchanges, stablecoins, and decentralized finance platforms. This body was officially endorsed by the Finance Ministry on May 21st. Meanwhile, the IMF has raised concerns about this plan, highlighting its lack of clarity regarding energy allocation and potential for exacerbating existing energy shortages. These concerns surfaced during ongoing discussions concerning Pakistan’s financial program. This initiative aims to establish Pakistan as a leader in digital assets.