PAKISTAN-BLACKOUT Inquiry underway after major power cut in Pakistan.

Record ID: 871841

  • Title: PAKISTAN-BLACKOUT Inquiry underway after major power cut in Pakistan.
  • Date: 26th January 2015
  • Summary: KARACHI, PAKISTAN (JANUARY 24, 2015) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) CARS DRIVING IN THE DARK CITY BUILDINGS WITHOUT LIGHTS BUILDING WITHOUT LIGHTS / SOUND OF GENERATORS GENERATOR RUNNING OF A CAR SHOPS ILLUMINATED BY GENERATORS LAHORE, PAKISTAN (JANUARY 25, 2015) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) TRAFFIC DRIVING IN THE DARK / CAR HEADLIGHTS FLASHING AS THEY DRIVE PAST
  • Embargoed: 10th February 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Pakistan
  • City:
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA71G11JLWB7FDQCPIYAGHCRPV
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS SOME MATERIAL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
    Pakistan's Minister for Water and Power, Khawaja Asif, said on Monday (January 26) an inquiry was underway into the major power failure that plunged nearly 80 percent of the country into darkness over the weekend.
    Power was restored in most parts of the country within a few hours after the blackout on Saturday (January 24), but some parts remained reliant on generators.
    Asif said on Monday the power system was attacked by insurgents in Balochistan, though offering no further details, and said steps were being taken to improve the security of the country's power installations.
    "Now the attacks have started on state installations. We are making efforts to improve the security of state installations. We have ordered an inquiry in this regard. The MD of NESPAK (National Engineering Services Pakistan) will conduct the inquiry and he will submit a report in the next 48 hours," said Asif in Islamabad, adding that power would be restored completely by Monday evening.
    The inquiry into the situation was ordered by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who also chaired a meeting in Islamabad on Monday to review the crisis.
    A statement from Sharif's office said the situation was gradually improving, and that the Prime Minister was directing a "comprehensive system that prevents such happenings in the future."
    The country is currently facing a crippling power crisis, leading many Pakistanis to accuse the government of failing to act fast enough to pre-empt a decrease in domestic fuel supplies at a time of falling global oil prices.
    The anger over the government's handling of the power crisis has added to the list of problems facing Sharif, his authority already weakened by months of opposition protests last year.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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