Transmission lines supplying power to Karachi fixed: Power Division

• Power supply suspended in various parts of the port city since morning.
  
• Authorities say power outage was caused by tripping of high tension lines.
  
• KE says restoration work is underway.
  

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KARACHI: The transmission lines supplying power to Karachi have been fixed and the load is being increased gradually, a spokesperson of the Power Divison said Saturday afternoon, hours after several areas of the city reported outages.

The official said that the functionality of the NK Baldia 1 and Baldia 2 transmission lines was restored at 2:41pm.

Read more: 'Blackout': Massive power outage in Pakistan as several cities plunge into darkness

The metropolis suffered a major power breakdown due to the tripping of high tension lines at Jamshoro-Karachi link multiplying the miseries of the Karachiites in the hot weather.

KE's spokesperson said power had been restored in North Nazimabad, PECHS, Defence, NIPA, Civil Lines, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, and other areas.

However, power has still not been restored in areas near Karachi Airport, Rafah-e-Aam Society, Malir, Qauidabad, Liaquatabad, Korngi, Orangi, Nazimabad, Lyari, Kharadar, Khadda Market, FB Area.

According to sources, over 45 grid stations in Karachi got affected due to the tripping of transmission lines after which the power supply to a major part of the city was suspended.

In a statement, the power utility said that the supply to parts of Karachi has been interrupted due to tripping of a KE's 220 kv high tension line after which supply to associated grids was affected.

“Restoration efforts have already begun and are expected to be completed within one hour and the availability of generation supply is enabling restoration to progress swiftly,” it added, at 2:37pm.

No fault in Bin Qasim Plant-1

Following reports of smoke rising from Bin Qasim Plant-1, KE said it had completed an investigation into the matter, and no technical fault was found in any of the production units.

'Supply normal in other parts of country'

Earlier, the Ministry of Energy had said that the power outage in the city was caused by the tripping of the NKI Baldia 1 and Baldia 2 lines.

"The teams of KE and NTDC are working to restore the supply and investigations are underway to ascertain the cause of tripping."

The statement further added that the system is normal in the rest of the country.