Pakistan says power grid restored after second major breakdown in months

Pakistan says power grid restored after second major breakdown in months

By Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam and Asif Shahzad ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's energy ministry said on Tuesday it had restored its national power grid nearly 24 hours

By Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam and Asif Shahzad ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's energy ministry said on Tuesday it had restored its national power grid nearly 24 hours

after a breakdown triggered the worst outage in months, highlighting the frailty of the aid-dependant nation's infrastructure. All 1,112 grid stations were back online, a

after a breakdown triggered the worst outage in months, highlighting the frailty of the aid-dependant nation's infrastructure. All 1,112 grid stations were back online, a

senior government official told Reuters, adding that electricity would be fully restored across the country once power generation units were back up. The official declined to be

senior government official told Reuters, adding that electricity would be fully restored across the country once power generation units were back up. The official declined to be

named as they were not authorised to speak to the media. The outage, which began on Monday morning during the peak winter season, is the second major grid failure to hit the

named as they were not authorised to speak to the media. The outage, which began on Monday morning during the peak winter season, is the second major grid failure to hit the

nation of 220 million people since October, though there are partial blackouts almost daily. Residents in major cities said they now had electricity, but some areas of the

nation of 220 million people since October, though there are partial blackouts almost daily. Residents in major cities said they now had electricity, but some areas of the

country were still without power. Analysts and officials blame the power problems on an ageing electricity network, which like much of the national infrastructure,

country were still without power. Analysts and officials blame the power problems on an ageing electricity network, which like much of the national infrastructure,

desperately needs an upgrade that the government says it can ill afford. The International Monetary Fund has bailed out Pakistan five times in the last two decades. Its

desperately needs an upgrade that the government says it can ill afford. The International Monetary Fund has bailed out Pakistan five times in the last two decades. Its

latest bailout tranche, however, is stuck due to differences with the government over a programme review that should have been completed in November. Pakistan has enough

latest bailout tranche, however, is stuck due to differences with the government over a programme review that should have been completed in November. Pakistan has enough

installed power capacity to meet demand, but it lacks resources to run its oil-and-gas powered plants. The sector is so heavily in debt that it cannot afford to invest in

installed power capacity to meet demand, but it lacks resources to run its oil-and-gas powered plants. The sector is so heavily in debt that it cannot afford to invest in

infrastructure and power lines. China has invested in its power sector as part of a $60 billion infrastructure scheme that feeds into Beijing's "Belt and Road" initiative.

infrastructure and power lines. China has invested in its power sector as part of a $60 billion infrastructure scheme that feeds into Beijing's "Belt and Road" initiative.