Monday Blues came in a different way for Pakistan as large parts of the country, including capital Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta went into darkness because of a power grid breakdown at 7:32 am.
This is the second such incident in three months as something like this had also happened in October, 2022 in Karachi, where thousands of people were left without electricity. Not just in October, a massive power breakdown also happened in September 2021 in several areas of Karachi.
What happened? High tension electricity supply line between Quetta and Guddu caused a major power breakdown, Pakistan newspaper the Dawn reported. As a result, electricity supply to 117 grid stations was suspended.
Three transmission lines trip in Pakistan: The Quetta Electric Supply Company spokesperson Muhammad Afzal told Dawn that three transmission lines in the province -220kV UchSibbi, 220kV Dadu Khuzdar and 220kV Dera Murad Jamali, had tripped which "led to a massive power outage across Balochistan."
Why there is a power crisis in Pakistan: A senior ministry official who spoke to Reuters, said that the reason why power outages trouble people of Pakistan is because of the ageing grids.
Today foreign affairs is not working because of no electricity ⚡️ 😢😢 pic.twitter.com/OiL7OoqBN7
— Faisal Khan (@FaisalK25311126) January 23, 2023
'Not a major issue': Pakistan's Energy Minister Khurram Dastagir said that this isn't something major, and the power grid will be restored by 10 pm.
Pakistan Parliament also to stay shut for three days: Offices of National Assembly and Senate Secretariat will remain close for three days due to a short circuit in the Parliament building, ARY news reported.
Senate Chairman, Sadiq Sanjrani and National Assembly (NA) Speaker Pervaiz Ashraf has ordered immediate precautionary measures while the concerned secretaries have been directed to take steps for the resolution of this issue.
Electricity breakdown or economic failure: The loss of power in large parts of the country also sent worrying signals to the people with many taking it as an outcome of a fragile and weak Pakistan economy, which is going down, with each passing day.
A massive power breakdown across Pakistan raises fears among many that a country with fragile economy is heading towards a serious energy crisis in harsh winter.
— Owais Tohid (@OwaisTohid) January 23, 2023
Moreover, journalist Shahbaz Rana, went on to say that "electricity breakdown is a symbol of governance breakdown and economic meltdown."
Electricity breakdown is a Symbol of Governance breakdown and Economic Meltdown. It is the price that the nation will pay for the inflated egos of our rulers. If things do not improve from here, there will soon be breakdowns of supply chains of almost all essential goods
— Shahbaz Rana (@81ShahbazRana) January 23, 2023