ISLAMABAD: In a major development, the power transmission system has been fully restored across the country, claimed the Ministry of Energy on Thursday.
Parts of Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab witnessed a major power shutdown this morning as the electricity supply was suspended in several areas due to an “accidental fault” in the southern electricity transmission system of the country.
Taking to Twitter, the ministry said that the power supply is being increased from alternative power plants which will return to normal by Friday morning.
However, contrary to the ministry's statement, power had not been restored as sources told Geo News that the electricity supply from Tarbela Dam had been suspended.
In a statement, the K-Electric spokesperson said that the power supply is being restored in the port city in phases.
“Per Ministry of Energy reports multiple cities across Pakistan are currently affected following a fault in the national transmission network,” said the spokesperson in a statement.
Power supply to strategic installations including the airport, hospitals, and KWSB pumping stations have been restored, the spokesperson added.
Restoration of power supply in residential areas is progressing gradually, the electricity supply company said, adding that parts of F.B. Area and Gizri including Aga Khan, Civic Centre, Clifton, Defence, Dhabeji and Elander Road as well as large parts of Gulistan-e-Johar, Liaquatabad, Lyari and Malir and others have been restored.
K-Electric’s generation, transmission and distribution network is safe and fully functional, enabling restoration efforts to progress steadily, read the statement.
Earlier, Federal Minister for Energy Khurram Dastgir Khan assured Pakistanis of a complete power supply restoration by Isha prayers.
"We will restore the system between maghrib and Isha,” Khan said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad. He informed the nation that an inquiry team has been formed to investigate the matter, which will submit its report within five days.
The minister told reporters that a shortfall of 8,000 megawatts emerged due to the breakdown, but at least 4,700 megawatts have been restored.
“Faisalabad and Multan regions have been restored completely,” he said, adding that the Sukkur Electric Supply Company's (SEPCO) supply has been partially restored.
Khan said that it will take a few hours to restore the plants that have tripped and was hopeful that plants providing electricity to Karachi will also be restored.
“Electricity needs to be restored in Quetta and Karachi,” said Khan, adding that the tripping that triggered the breakdown started from the port city and spread to other parts of the country.
Earlier, the Federal Ministry of Energy confirmed the reports of the outages in Sindh and other parts of the country due to "accidental faults" in the southern transmission system.
"Several power plants are tripping in a row due to an accidental fault in the southern transmission system, which is hindering the electricity supply in the southern areas of the country," the ministry tweeted.
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