PM orders swift restoration of power amid nationwide breakdown

By
AFP
|
PM orders swift restoration of power amid nationwide breakdown
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday ordered the ministry of water and power and other concerned quarters to restore electricity at the earliest following a major power breakdown that plunged almost the whole country in darkness last night.

He directed for effective measures to be taken to thwart such events from happening again in the future.

Speaking after a report was presented to him on the issue, the prime minister directed all concerned departments to restore electricity on war footing.

According to sources, the report said that the electricity would be fully restored in the country in next few hours.

He said that the government was utilising all possible resources to minimize electricity loadshedding across the country.

The country had plunged into darkness after a main power transmission line broke down late on Saturday night. This was the third major breakdown in the past one month.

Federal Secretary of Water and Power Younus Thakkar, earlier speaking at press conference, said over 7,000 MW of electricity had been restored and further work was underway to end the breakdown.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif ruled out any shortcoming on the government’s part for the power breakdown, saying the crisis happened due to security lapse.

Speaking to Geo News in Sialkot, he said the terrorists attacked three gas pipelines in two days. Asif said the gas pipeline supplying gas to Uch power plant was destroyed last night following repairs by the Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC) just a night ago.

He said that the crisis would be resolved by tonight.