A dark street in Rawalpindi during a widespread power cut in Pakistan early on January 10, 2021. AP Photo
A dark street in Rawalpindi during a widespread power cut in Pakistan early on January 10, 2021. AP Photo
A dark street in Rawalpindi during a widespread power cut in Pakistan early on January 10, 2021. AP Photo
A dark street in Rawalpindi during a widespread power cut in Pakistan early on January 10, 2021. AP Photo

Pakistan hit by nationwide power cut


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Pakistan's worst power outage in several years plunged the country into darkness and led internet connectivity in the country to collapse.
An engineering fault in southern Pakistan shortly before midnight on Saturday tripped the country's grid and caused power plants to shut down across the country.

All of the country's major cities, including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Islamabad, reported blackouts as the nation of more than 220 million was left largely without electricity.

  • People are silhouetted on vehicle headlights on a dark street during widespread power outages in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Pakistan's national power grid experienced a major breakdown late night on Saturday, leaving millions of people in darkness, local media reported. AP Photo
    People are silhouetted on vehicle headlights on a dark street during widespread power outages in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Pakistan's national power grid experienced a major breakdown late night on Saturday, leaving millions of people in darkness, local media reported. AP Photo
  • Motorists drive through a residential area during a power blackout in Pakistan's port city of Karachi. AFP
    Motorists drive through a residential area during a power blackout in Pakistan's port city of Karachi. AFP
  • The blackout after a fault developed in power transmission lines in Karachi, Pakistan. Pakistan was hit by a nationwide blackout when power failures were reported in all major cities. EPA
    The blackout after a fault developed in power transmission lines in Karachi, Pakistan. Pakistan was hit by a nationwide blackout when power failures were reported in all major cities. EPA
  • Motorists drive through a residential area during a power blackout in Pakistan's port city of Karachi. AFP
    Motorists drive through a residential area during a power blackout in Pakistan's port city of Karachi. AFP
  • Motorists drive through a residential area during a power blackout in Pakistan's port city of Karachi. AFP
    Motorists drive through a residential area during a power blackout in Pakistan's port city of Karachi. AFP
  • A motorcyclist rides through a residential area during a power blackout in Pakistan's port city of Karachi early. AFP
    A motorcyclist rides through a residential area during a power blackout in Pakistan's port city of Karachi early. AFP
  • A general view of the blackout after fault developed in power transmission lines in Karachi, Pakistan. Pakistan was hit by a nationwide blackout, when power failures were reported in all major cities. EPA
    A general view of the blackout after fault developed in power transmission lines in Karachi, Pakistan. Pakistan was hit by a nationwide blackout, when power failures were reported in all major cities. EPA
  • People and auto-rickshaws are silhouetted on vehicles headlights on a dark street during widespread power outages in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. AP Photo
    People and auto-rickshaws are silhouetted on vehicles headlights on a dark street during widespread power outages in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. AP Photo

Ghulam Mustafa, a labourer in Islamabad, said his entire neighbourhood had been plunged into darkness.

"I have spoken to family in Lahore and Multan, it is everywhere," he told The National. "We were used to this, but the power has been better. I pray for those who are in hospitals."

Engineers spent Sunday working on a phased restoration, as they brought power plants back online. Power in the capital, Islamabad, was quickly resumed and by the middle of the day, the government said supply had been partially restored in most areas of Punjab, as well as the economic hub Karachi in the south.
Netblockers, which monitors internet access, said the outage led connectivity to drop by nearly half as telecoms networks were affected.
"While not a total blackout, the disruption is consistent with a nation-scale power grid failure and is among the most severe such outages to strike the country in the observatory's records," the watchdog said.
There were no immediate reports of disruption at hospitals, which run back-up generators, and the overnight timing spared many businesses and factories.
The outage was caused by "an engineering fault" at 11.41pm on Saturday at the Guddu power plant in southern Sindh province, power minister Omar Ayub Khan told a press conference in Islamabad.

The fault triggered the shutdown of other power plants in seconds.

Mr Khan said the exact cause was still being investigated and he urged people to be patient as engineers fired up the main Tarbela power plant in the north-west, which would lead to a restoration of power in the rest of the country in phases.
Pakistan's once frequent power cuts and scheduled outages have become much less common in the past decade as Chinese investment has poured into the energy sector. Yet the country still comes in at 115 in a World Bank ranking of reliable electricity supplies, well below neighbouring India at 80 and Bangladesh at 101.
A delicate and interlinked grid system can see a problem in one part of the country cascade into breakdowns elsewhere.
The last major outage, in May 2018, saw the power supply partially disrupted for more than nine hours. Three years earlier, an apparent rebel attack on a key power line plunged about 80 per cent of Pakistan into darkness. That blackout was one of the worst in Pakistan's history and caused electricity to be cut in major cities nationwide.

Promises to fix Pakistan's electricity woes were a major part of the winning election platform of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) party in 2013. Power plants have been one of the cornerstones of Chinese investment in Pakistan under Beijing's Belt and Road initiative and several new coal-fired plants quickly added to Pakistan's generating capacity.

Yet the power grid still remains dilapidated. The World Bank estimates some 71 per cent of Pakistanis have access to electricity, compared with 95 per cent in India and 85 per cent in Bangladesh.

Maestro
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If you go

Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.

Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com

A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com

THE SPECS

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 275hp at 6,600rpm

Torque: 353Nm from 1,450-4,700rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto

Top speed: 250kph

Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: Dh146,999

Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi

Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi

Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain

Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni

Rating: 2.5/5

COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: Blah

Started: 2018

Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri

Based: Dubai

Industry: Technology and talent management

Initial investment: Dh20,000

Investors: Self-funded

Total customers: 40

Need to know

The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours. 

The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.

When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend  are  January-February and September-October.  Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.

Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.

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Test

Director: S Sashikanth

Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan

Star rating: 2/5

David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

The biog

Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia

Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins

Favourite dish: Grilled fish

Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.

Results

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m, Winner: Zalman, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)

5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Hisham Al Khalediah II, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash.

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Qader, Adrie de Vries, Jean de Roualle

6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship Listed (PA) Dh180,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Mujeeb, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly

8pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 1,400m, Winner: Nayslayer, Bernardo Pinheiro, Jaber Ramadhan

THE BIO

Bio Box

Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul

Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader

Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Favorite food: seafood

Favorite place to travel: Lebanon

Favorite movie: Braveheart