KARACHI: Large swathes of the metropolis and other areas in the Sindh province plunged into darkness as a major power breakdown hit southern Pakistan late Friday, despite K-Electric, the city’s main power supplier, claiming that electricity had been resumed in most of the city.
Almost eight hours later, power was still out in Quaidabad, Malir Halt, Rafah-e-Aam Society, Alfalah Road, and surroundings.
KE’s prior claims to resume power in 2-3 hours turned out to be false, as some areas in Karachi, the country’s biggest industrial hub, were still in the dark while others, where power had somewhat resumed, were facing intermittent power cuts, posing risk to electrical appliances.
Further, a power cut that hit the Dhabeji, Gharo, and Pipri power stations has impacted the water supply to Karachi.
However, power did resume in the Lasbela district and Thatta and its surroundings in Sindh six hours later. In Hyderabad, on the other hand, electricity resumed partially after eight hours in the dark.
Areas that experienced power outage included Defence, Saddar, North Karachi, Soldier Bazar, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Pak Colony, PECHS, Lines Area, Mehmoodabad, Baloch Colony, and Jamshed Road, among many others.
Sources also informed us that the city’s Jinnah International Airport was also impacted by the suspension of electricity, with major portions of Jinnah Terminal and the rest of the airport facing pitch blackness. They added, however, that alternative power sources were being utilised for the sensitive areas.
On its official Twitter page, K-Electric, the metropolis’ primary power supplier, said a “500 kV transmission line connecting KE to the National Grid has tripped”.