Around 7:30 am, a significant power outage caused by a transmission line malfunction struck the nation, leaving major cities like Karachi and Lahore without electricity.
There was no electricity in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Quetta, or any other significant urban areas of the nation.
According to information provided by Geo News, 90% of Karachi’s energy is no longer being supplied.
According to early reports, the national grid’s system frequency dropped at 7:34 am, which led to a significant failure in the electricity system, according to the Ministry of Energy.
“Work is in the process to quickly restore the system,” it continued.
A short while afterward, the Ministry of Energy announced that work had begun to restore grid stations from Warsak.
Additionally, the ministry asserted that a number of grid stations owned by the Peshawar Electric Supply Company and the Islamabad Electric Supply Company had their electricity restored (PESCO).
Loss Of Frequency is the Reason for Breakdown
Different power distribution providers had already confirmed the power outage prior to the ministry’s declaration.
K-Electric, which confirmed the report, stated that at around 7:34 am, the national grid suffered from a “loss of frequency,” which had an impact on the delivery of electricity to numerous cities around Pakistan.
According to a brief update provided in this respect, the power distribution company, “This has also cascaded to KE’s network, disrupting the power supply to Karachi.”
The two transmission lines from Guddu to Quetta tripped, according to Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO). In addition, Quetta and 22 other Balochistan districts lack electricity.
A power outage was also reported in other locations in Karachi at the same time.
“Multiple outages have been reported from various locations throughout the city. We are looking into the matter and will update this area, “Imran Rana, a spokesman for K-Electric, stated.
According to the IESCO spokeswoman, all 117 of its grid stations are without power.
PESCO also acknowledged a power outage in places where it provides electricity.
The nation had a significant power outage for the second time in four months.
During the power outage in October of last year, Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Quetta, Multan, and Faisalabad were affected.
The electricity minister reported that at that moment, around 8,000 megawatts of power were lost.
Dastagir had previously stated that the government was concerned about the simultaneous faults in two power lines that had caused the breakdown. Along with promising action, he had also declared that a thorough investigation had been mandated.
Power Breakdowns in the History of Pakistan
In the past nine years, there have been eight significant power outages that have affected the nation’s generation and distribution network.
The Tarbela Power Station defect was to blame for statewide blackouts in 2014 and 2017, while fog, frequency variation, and the Guddu Power Plant problem were to blame for failures in 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Every time, the party in charge promised to launch a thorough investigation and make amends, but despite numerous inquiries, nothing has changed.