Pakistani oil company Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) is to develop data centers across the country as part of an expansion into digital infrastructure.

“MPCL, through this initiative, plans to establish data centers at multiple locations across Pakistan to host data for public and private institutions,” Mari said this week in a PSX stock exchange announcement.

In August, Mari announced the formation of a subsidiary focusing on cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI). This week the company said it has formed the new digital infrastructure subsidiary with an equity investment of Rs. 10 billion ($36m).

Details on how many data centers, where they will be located, or their scale were not shared. However, the PSX announcement said the ‘project launch ceremony for the first data center’ took place this week in Karachi.

MPCL, founded in 1984, is controlled by Pakistani conglomerate the Fauji Foundation, which is largely controlled by the Pakistani Armed Forces. Mari was formed after Fauji, the state-owned OGDCL, and the Government of Pakistan acquired the Pakistan operations of Esso Eastern Inc.

“By venturing into new areas such as mineral exploration, data center, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, green energies, carbon capture, and storage, we are not only broadening our portfolio but also positioning MPCL for sustainable growth and resilience in a rapidly evolving market,” the company said in its recently published annual report. “The formation of a dedicated [data center and cloud] company will help tap the rising demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence. It will support digital transformation across industries and will act as an enabler for MPCL’s core E&P and mining businesses.”

According to Data Center Map, Pakistan currently has 22 data centers split between three markets: Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad. Operators include PTCL, Multinet, Chapal, Supernet, Cybernet, and Vision Telecom among others. In June 2023, the University of Turbat in Pakistan launched a new data center. The first phase of completion coincided with the deployment of a 1MW solar project at the university.

Pakistani textiles company Chakwal Spinning Mills Limited recently said it was pivoting to develop data centers.