Technical fault caused a massive power outage in Pakistan
Pakistan government has ordered an immediate investigation to determine the cause of the massive power breakdown that plunged the whole country into darkness.
Hours after the sudden power breakdown that plunged the entire country into darkness, electricity was restored in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad. However, the restoration of power continues in the rest of the country in phases.
In a press briefing on Sunday morning, Energy Minister Omar Ayub said that the Guddu power plant developed a “technical fault” at 11:41 pm on Saturday night that caused the frequency in the entire distribution system to drop from 50 to zero, leading to a countrywide power failure. But the exact cause and reasons are yet to be determined. “The exact reasons can only be identified after a thorough investigation,” the minister said.
The National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) has formed a high-level committee to investigate the power breakdown.
The countrywide power breakdown sent waves of panic and chaos across the country. Pakistan often experiences power outages, however, the January 10 breakdown was shocking for many as it affected the entire country altogether.
Some residents expressed fears regarding a cyberattack on the national grid system referring to the 2015 Ukraine blackout which is known as the first successful cyber intrusion on a power grid.