Major power outage hits Pakistan
Pakistan Times Wire Service

ISLAMABAD: A technical fault in Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) triggered a nationwide blackout in Pakistan on Sunday, a spokesman for the country’s main power utility said. He ruled out sabotage.

"It is a national blackout and we're trying to find out the fault," said Shafqat Jalil of Pakistan's Water and Power Development Authority.

"There is no chance of sabotage because had it been so, it would have been reported to us by now," he told media.

WAPDA sources informed that the breakdown was occurred due to malfunctioning in 500 KW transmission line from Tarbela dam. Among the cities affected were the capital Islamabad, Lahore, Jehlum, Chakwal, Gujranwala, Mansehra, Shangla, Butgram and Muzaffarabad.

Nearly 30 percent of Karachi is also under power shortage, as KESC reported breakdown of nearly 600 MW of power supply. However, most of the nation's commercial centers in Karachi, still had power.

Varies cities of Southern Punjab such as Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Sahiwaal and several other areas were also affected by the breakdown including Muzaffargarh thermal power station and Piraghayab power station of Multan.

Guddu transmission line was also affected by the power outage that caused electricity disruption in various districts of Quetta and Balochistan.

No timeframe for restoration of power in the country of 160 million people is been given yet.●