Electricity outage: power supply restored across Karachi, constraints persist, says KE

K-Electric Limited (KE), the sole power utility provider in Karachi, on Friday announced that the power supply to the metropolis was restored in a phase-wise manner following tripping in the transmission lines of the National Grid on Thursday.

However, supply from the National Grid remains affected due to ongoing technical constraints, which may lead to power cuts in industrial zones, it said.

The statement comes after a massive power breakdown hit Sindh and Punjab on Thursday, after a "fault in the country's southern transmission system", said the Ministry of Energy.

Electricity supply was suspended in various areas of Sindh, including Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Jamshoro, Sujawal, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Umarkot, Sanghar, Nawabshah, Matiari, Tharparkar and Larkana.

Power ‘fully restored’ across Pakistan after massive outage: energy ministry

Power supply was also disrupted in various cities of Punjab including Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan.

“Due to an accidental fault in the country's southern transmission system, several southern power plants are tripping in stages, which is disrupting the transmission of electricity in the southern part of the country,” said the Ministry of Energy on its official Twitter handle on Thursday.

However, after this announcement the ministry announced late Thursday that power was “fully restored” across the country, adding that the disturbance in two 500kv lines in the south of Karachi was resolved.

“Electricity supply is being increased from alternative power plants, which will return to normal by Friday morning,” the ministry shared.

Meanwhile, KE on Friday said that its network after safely being disconnected from the national grid, landed in island mode post which KE through its own generation plants started power restoration within a span of an hour and half.

“KE teams began phase-wise restoration efforts with first priority to strategic installations such as Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) pumping stations, airport, and hospitals.

“Power supply was then gradually diverted to residential areas including but not limited to PECHS, Orangi, Lyari, Ibrahim Hyderi, Nazimabad, and DHA,” KE said.

The electricity utility provider said that although its systems remain stable, supply from the National Grid remains partially affected due to ongoing technical constraints at their end. “Per initial information, this situation may persist over the next 48 hours,” it said.

KE shared that in order to manage the constraints, KE may temporarily curtail power supply to industrial zones during nighttime hours to facilitate residential areas. “Should the situation persist or intensify, the company may also have to conduct load management,” it added.