Pakistan’s energy minister has defended the government following a major, day-long power cut that disrupted normal life across the country and drew criticism from millions who were left without electricity amid harsh winter weather.
Pakistan’s energy minister has defended the government following a major, day-long power cut that disrupted normal life across the country and drew criticism from millions who were left without electricity amid harsh winter weather.
Monday’s blackout engulfed schools, factories and shops, and many of the country’s 220 million population were left without drinking water as pumps powered by electricity also failed to work.
In key businesses and institutions, including main hospitals, military and government facilities, back-up generators kicked in.
Power was later mostly restored, though some parts of the country were still experiencing blackouts on Tuesday.
Energy Minister Khurram Dastgir offered no apologies for the collapse of the grid but praised the nation’s engineers and technicians for their efforts to boot up the system.
He also made no reference to the fact that an energy-saving measure by the government had backfired.
