Large parts of Pakistan hit by power cut

Islamabad (Reuters): A power cut hit large part of Pakistan yesterday (16 May), suspending work at factories and businesses in its industrial heartland and highlighting the challenges successive governments have faced in getting to grips with chronic power shortages.

The power cut could play into politics in the run-up to a general election, expected in July, given that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, had made ending power blackouts a central promise in its last election campaign. Zafar Yab Khan, a spokesman for the ministry of energy, said the blackout had hit most of eastern and northern Pakistan after a major section of the national grid “tripped”, or suddenly shut down.

“Due to tripping of a major plant, the north system is off,” Khan said.

He said the cause was not known but was being investigated.