National power grid breakdown plunges Pakistan into darknesss, army exploring sabotage angle

Islamabad: A major breakdown in Pakistan’s national power grid plunged the country into darkness on Saturday night, officials said.

It is not yet known if power was restored to crucial civilian and military installations, as media outlets and internet connectivity in Pakistan is also down due to the blackout.

“A countrywide blackout has been caused by a sudden plunge in the frequency in the power transmission system,” Pakistan’s Power Minister Omar Ayub Khan said on Twitter.

He said efforts were underway to determine the reasons behind the situation, and asked people across the country to remain calm.

Senior officials are exploring the sabotage angle and the army has been asked to assist the department’s engineers in restoring power at crucial locations and sites.