Many areas in Pakistan remain without power despite restoration claims by gov’t
KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – Several parts of Pakistan remained without electricity even on Tuesday, following a major power breakdown that hit the South Asian nuclear country on Monday, virtually paralyzing the normal course of life.
Addressing a press conference in the capital Islamabad on Tuesday, Energy Minister Khurram Dastagir claimed that the power has been “fully” restored across the country. However, multiple media reports suggested that several cities and towns were still without electricity when this report was being written.
Even in big cities, including commercial capital Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, and others, the power has been partially restored.
These cities, local broadcaster Geo News reported, are facing 12-hour load-shedding.
Dastagir said that over 1,100 grid stations across the country have been restored.
He acknowledged that two major nuclear power plants – in Karachi and Chashma – together with a couple of coal plants, comprising a combined capacity of over 10,000 megawatts, will take another 48 to 72 hours to get operational.
Till then, he added, “some parts” of the country will face “limited” power shortages.
The breakdown occurred at 7.34 a.m. local time (0234GMT), on Monday forcing government offices, airlines, hospitals, and business centers across the country to rely on backup generators.