London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Jan 19, 2025

Pakistan left without power after energy-saving move backfires

Pakistan left without power after energy-saving move backfires

Millions were left without power in harsh winter weather, with officials saying electricity was turned off during low usage hours overnight to conserve fuel, leaving technicians unable to reboot the system all at once after daybreak.

An energy-saving measure in Pakistan backfired, leaving millions across the country without power.

The government has begun restoring power and launched an inquiry into the outage, which began around 7am local time.

Officials said it started when electricity was turned off during low usage hours overnight to conserve fuel across the country, leaving technicians unable to reboot the system all at once after daybreak.


Shoppers visit a market, where some shopkeepers are using generators for electricity.

The mausoleum of Mohammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi during the power breakdown

Many major cities, including the capital Islamabad, and remote towns and villages across Pakistan were left without power for more than 12 hours.

As the electricity blackout continued late into Monday, the authorities sent police to markets across the country to provide security.

Officials later said power had been restored in many cities, 15 hours after the outage was reported.

It had left millions without drinking water, as pumps powered by electricity failed to work, and left schools, hospitals, factories and shops without power amid harsh winter weather.

Khurram Dastgir, the energy minister, told local reporters that engineers were working to restore power and tried to reassure the nation power would be restored within the next 12 hours.

He said electricity usage typically goes down overnight during winter, unlike in the summer months when Pakistanis turn to air conditioning.

"As an economic measure, we temporarily shut down our power generation systems" on Sunday night, Mr Dastgir said.

He said when engineers tried to turn the system back on a "fluctuation in voltage ... forced engineers to shut down the power grid" stations one by one.



Mr Dastgir insisted the outage was not a major crisis and said backup generators kicked in to help key businesses and institutions such as hospitals, military and government facilities.

"We are hoping that the supply of electricity will be fully restored tonight," he said.

It was the second major electricity grid failure in three months, on top of the blackouts the country's nearly 220 million people experience almost daily.

Ageing electricity network desperately needs upgrade


Analysts and officials have blamed Pakistan's power problems on its ageing electricity network, which desperately needs an upgrade the government says it cannot afford.

The International Monetary Fund has bailed out Pakistan five times in the past two decades, but the latest funding is on pause due to differences with the government over a programme review that should have been completed in November.

While Pakistan has enough installed power capacity to meet demand, it lacks resources to run its oil-and-gas-powered plants.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
France Urges EU to Act on Musk's Political Influence as Tensions Rise
Former Special Forces Blast Defense Ministry for Revealing Sensitive Details
Celebrity Responses to California Wildfires: Charity, Criticism, and Controversy
The Wildfires of Los Angeles: A Devastating Impact on Celebrities and California's Leadership
Tragic Loss: Teenager's Death Sparks Community Reflection in Bedford and London
UK Government Proposes Cap on Resale Ticket Prices to Combat Touts
Greenland's Future Caught in Diplomatic Crossfire Between Trump and Europe
EU Prepared to Lead Support for Ukraine Amid US Uncertainty, Says Estonian Prime Minister
Brompton E-Bike Component Diverted to UK Military Drone Production, Causes Delays
Romanian Gang Convicted of Human Trafficking and Exploitation in Dundee
Persistent Cold Snap Grips the UK: Severe Frost and Snow Disrupt Daily Life
Germany Faces Alarming Rise in Homelessness, New Report Shows
China’s Appetite for Salmon: A Game Changer in Global Seafood Markets
Russian Bots Allegedly Amplified NATO Critic Prior to Croatian Election, Researchers Reveal
Armenia Considers EU Membership Referendum Amid Strained Ties with Russia
French Finance Minister Explores Pension Reform Compromise to Secure Budget Agreement
Armenia Considers EU Referendum Amid Growing Rift with Russia
New Wildfire Ignites in Los Angeles as Region Battles Devastating Blazes
The Espionage Unraveled: A Russian Spy Network's Intricacies in the UK
U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Trump's Bid to Delay Sentencing in Hush Money Case
UK Financial Markets Remain Calm Amid Rising Government Borrowing Costs
Stellantis Achieves UK Electric Vehicle Sales Mandate Amid Factory Closure
TikTok Faces Potential Ban in the United States Amid Security Concerns
Pound Plummets to 14-Month Low Amid Concerns Over UK Borrowing Costs
Tensions Rise Over Planned Pro-Palestinian March in London
Bomb Scare in Central London: Abandoned Car Sparks Panic Near Regent Street
Police Seek Suspect in Antisemitic Incident at Liverpool Street Station
Regulatory Reprimand for London Charity Over Fundraising for Israeli Soldier
The Duchess of Sussex Mourns Devastating Loss of Beloved Rescue Dog
From Chairman to Controversial Politician: Rupert Lowe's Journeys in Business and Politics
Metropolitan Police Halts Pro-Palestine March Near BBC Due to Proximity to Synagogue
Inside Warwick Hospital: A Glimpse into the NHS's Battle Against Winter Pressures
Chappell Roan: A Synth-Pop Sensation Emerges as BBC Sound Of 2025 Winner
Search Intensifies for Missing Aberdeen Sisters Eliza and Henrietta Huszti
Pioneering Drug Consumption Room Opens in Glasgow
Ryanair Initiates Legal Action Against Disruptive Passenger in Landmark Case
Former Brexit Negotiator Oliver Robbins Appointed Top Civil Servant at UK Foreign Office
British Hiker Found Deceased Amidst Dolomites Search: Investigation Underway
Pound Falls as UK Borrowing Costs Reach Financial Crisis Levels
Italian Journalist Cecilia Sala Released from Iranian Detention
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Faces Allegations of Childhood Sexual Abuse by Sister
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Denies Sister's Allegations of Sexual Abuse
UK Markets Under Pressure as Gilt Yields Surge
Arrest Made in Connection to Stabbing of Iranian Journalist in London
Arrest Made in Fatal Drive-By Shooting Outside London Church
Parliamentary Suspension Over Racist Remarks Highlights Tensions in UK Politics
Debate Intensifies Over Call for Child Abuse Inquiry Amidst Musk's Comments
Mark Zuckerberg's U-Turn: Moving Toward Free Speech on Facebook and Instagram, For a Change
Britain's authorities' support for pedophiles has gone insane
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has finally announced his resignation from a role he should never have held in the first place
×