Massive power outages hit Punjab, KP as Tarbela power plant goes faulty

LAHORE - Technical glitches at Tarbela power plant on early Wednesday led to worst load-shedding in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, leaving consumers in the dark.

A blackout is being observed in Lahore, Multan, Bahawalpur, Gujranwala and other cities in Punjab, and Peshawar, Swat, Lakki Marwat in KP. The fault at the Tarbela also caused tripping of all four Chashma Power Plants.

The power breakdown also caused a blackout in the National Assembly, Punjab Assembly, impeding the routine proceedings. However, the parliamentary business carried out by turning on the generators.

Media reports say medical surgeries of patients at different hospitals in Lahore and other cities were halted due to the power outage.

Technical team accompanied by the Secretary, Power Division, have reached the site to trace the fault. Officials said that the supply of the electricity will be restored in few hours.

A spokesperson of the Atomic Energy Commission informed that industrial load-shedding amounting to ten hours would also begin in Punjab today. This measures might have been taken to provide uninterrupted supply to people during Ramazan.

Pakistan's current energy demand stands at 20,000 megawatts.