Major power outage in Pakistan: Significant parts of Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi without power for hours!

Islamabad, Jan 23: Millions of people were without electricity as Pakistan experienced a nationwide power outage on Monday due to a "reduced frequency" in the national grid, according to a statement from the energy ministry.

 

The major power breakdown took place at around 7:34 am on Monday. Pakistan's Ministry of Energy in a statement said that the frequency of the national grid went down at 7:34 am which caused a "widespread breakdown" in the power system. It further said that the restoration of grid stations has been started from Warsak.

 

The Ministry of Energy tweeted, "According to initial reports, the system frequency of the National Grid went down at 7:34 this morning, causing a widespread breakdown in the power system. System maintenance work is progressing rapidly."

 

 

In another tweet, it said, "The restoration of grid stations has been started from Warsak and in the last one hour limited number of grids of Islamabad Supply Company and Peshawar Supply Company have been restored."

 

The power outage occurred after a technical fault was reported in the transmission line from Guddu to Quetta, causing the reduction of the power frequency from the optimum level, according to the reports. Sindh, Punjab, and Islamabad regions were also impacted by the power breakdown. The complete restoration of electricity might take time.

 

It is the second power outage reported over the past four months in Pakistan which is currently dealing with the energy crisis and high energy costs.

 

Islamabad Electricity Supply Company (IESCO), which provides electricity to Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal and parts of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) said that the power supply to 117 grid stations of its company has been suspended, as per the news report.

 

 

IESCO tweeted, "Power supply to 117 grid stations of ISCO has been suspended yet no clear reason has been given by the Region Control Center. ISCO management is in constant communication with the concerned authorities."

 

No electricity has been reported in North Nazimabad, Safoora, Saddar, DHA, Bahadurabad, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Johar, Gurumandir, Jamshed Town, Clifton, Nazimabad, Gulshan-e-Maymar, and other parts, as per the news report. At least 22 districts of Balochistan were affected by the power outage, according to the Quetta Electricity Supply Company officials. The officials were trying to find details regarding the technical fault. They further said that National Transmission and Despatch Company were trying to restore electricity.

 

Citing spokespersons, the report said that the three major health facilities in Peshawar, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Lady Reading Hospital, and Hayatabad Medical Complex, were operating on generators after the electricity disruption.