Nationwide power blackout

Published February 25, 2013
This picture taken on February 24, 2013 shows Pakistani commuters driving on a street in a residential area during a nationwide power blackout in Karachi.  Pakistan was hit by a nationwide blackout for more than two hours after the breakdown of a major plant caused power stations to stop working across the country, officials said on February 25.  AFP PHOTO/Asif HASSAN
This picture taken on February 24, 2013 shows Pakistani commuters driving on a street in a residential area during a nationwide power blackout in Karachi. Pakistan was hit by a nationwide blackout for more than two hours after the breakdown of a major plant caused power stations to stop working across the country, officials said on February 25. AFP PHOTO/Asif HASSAN
This picture taken on February 24, 2013 shows Pakistani youth crossing a street during a nationwide power blackout in Karachi.  Pakistan was hit by a nationwide blackout for more than two hours after the breakdown of a major plant caused power stations to stop working across the country, officials said on February 25.  ? AFP Photo
This picture taken on February 24, 2013 shows Pakistani youth crossing a street during a nationwide power blackout in Karachi. Pakistan was hit by a nationwide blackout for more than two hours after the breakdown of a major plant caused power stations to stop working across the country, officials said on February 25. ? AFP Photo
This picture taken on February 24, 2013 shows Pakistani people drinking tea outside a restaurant during a nationwide power blackout in Karachi.  Pakistan was hit by a nationwide blackout for more than two hours after the breakdown of a major plant caused power stations to stop working across the country, officials said on February 25.  AFP PHOTO/Asif HASSAN
This picture taken on February 24, 2013 shows Pakistani people drinking tea outside a restaurant during a nationwide power blackout in Karachi. Pakistan was hit by a nationwide blackout for more than two hours after the breakdown of a major plant caused power stations to stop working across the country, officials said on February 25. AFP PHOTO/Asif HASSAN
This picture taken on February 24, 2013 shows Pakistani man preparing tea at his restaurant during a nationwide power blackout in Karachi. Pakistan was hit by a nationwide blackout for more than two hours after the breakdown of a major plant caused power stations to stop working across the country, officials said on February 25.  ? AFP Photo
This picture taken on February 24, 2013 shows Pakistani man preparing tea at his restaurant during a nationwide power blackout in Karachi. Pakistan was hit by a nationwide blackout for more than two hours after the breakdown of a major plant caused power stations to stop working across the country, officials said on February 25. ? AFP Photo
This picture taken on February 24, 2013 shows a homeless Pakistani man sleeping on a roadside during a nationwide power blackout in Karachi. Pakistan was hit by a nationwide blackout for more than two hours after the breakdown of a major plant caused power stations to stop working across the country, officials said on February 25.  AFP PHOTO/Asif HASSAN
This picture taken on February 24, 2013 shows a homeless Pakistani man sleeping on a roadside during a nationwide power blackout in Karachi. Pakistan was hit by a nationwide blackout for more than two hours after the breakdown of a major plant caused power stations to stop working across the country, officials said on February 25. AFP PHOTO/Asif HASSAN
This picture taken on February 24, 2013 shows an aerial view of buildings and homes during a nationwide power blackout in Karachi. Pakistan was hit by a nationwide blackout for more than two hours after the breakdown of a major plant caused power stations to stop working across the country, officials said on February 25.  ? AFP Photo
This picture taken on February 24, 2013 shows an aerial view of buildings and homes during a nationwide power blackout in Karachi. Pakistan was hit by a nationwide blackout for more than two hours after the breakdown of a major plant caused power stations to stop working across the country, officials said on February 25. ? AFP Photo
This picture taken on February 24, 2013 shows Pakistani commuters driving on a street in a residential area during a nationwide power blackout in Karachi.  Pakistan was hit by a nationwide blackout for more than two hours after the breakdown of a major plant caused power stations to stop working across the country, officials said on February 25.  AFP PHOTO/Asif HASSAN
This picture taken on February 24, 2013 shows Pakistani commuters driving on a street in a residential area during a nationwide power blackout in Karachi. Pakistan was hit by a nationwide blackout for more than two hours after the breakdown of a major plant caused power stations to stop working across the country, officials said on February 25. AFP PHOTO/Asif HASSAN
This picture taken on February 24, 2013 shows an aerial view of buildings and homes during a nationwide power blackout in Karachi. Pakistan was hit by a nationwide blackout for more than two hours after the breakdown of a major plant caused power stations to stop working across the country, officials said on February 25.  ? AFP Photo
This picture taken on February 24, 2013 shows an aerial view of buildings and homes during a nationwide power blackout in Karachi. Pakistan was hit by a nationwide blackout for more than two hours after the breakdown of a major plant caused power stations to stop working across the country, officials said on February 25. ? AFP Photo

Power was slowly being restored on Monday in different parts of Pakistan, including in areas in Karachi and Quetta, following a widespread, countrywide breakdown on Sunday night, DawnNews reported.

The breakdown occurred at about 11:45pm on Sunday, cutting off power supply to most of the country, including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Quetta and Azad Kashmir.

Power began to be restored on Monday morning with electricity supply resuming in some parts of Karachi and Quetta as well as in other areas of the country.

Speaking during a press conference in Islamabad, Secretary Water and Power Rai Sikandar said 5,000MW of electricity had reentered the system, enabling the restoration of electricity supply across Pakistan.

Moreover, he said the breakdown was caused when the Hubco Power Plant tripped due to a technical failure and other power plants were shut down in order to prevent any damage to their respective systems, thus leaving more than half the country in darkness.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf ordered an investigation into the matter. — Photos and text by Agencies

Opinion

Editorial

Short-changed?
Updated 24 Nov, 2024

Short-changed?

As nations continue to argue, the international community must recognise that climate finance is not merely about numbers.
Overblown ‘threat’
24 Nov, 2024

Overblown ‘threat’

ON the eve of the PTI’s ‘do or die’ protest in the federal capital, there seemed to be little evidence of the...
Exclusive politics
24 Nov, 2024

Exclusive politics

THERE has been a gradual erasure of the voices of most marginalised groups from Pakistan’s mainstream political...
Counterterrorism plan
Updated 23 Nov, 2024

Counterterrorism plan

Lacunae in our counterterrorism efforts need to be plugged quickly.
Bullish stock market
23 Nov, 2024

Bullish stock market

NORMALLY, stock markets rise gradually. In recent months, however, Pakistan’s stock market has soared to one ...
Political misstep
Updated 23 Nov, 2024

Political misstep

To drag a critical ally like Saudi Arabia into unfounded conspiracies is detrimental to Pakistan’s foreign policy.