Pakistani authorities forced a blackout in Karachi, Pakistan after Indian fighter jets were rumored to have violated the airspace over the city. While the IAF denies any involvement, netizens in the city complained that fighter jets were hovering over the city. A Pakistani journalist claims that he saw jets patrolling over the city.
Some of the city's hospitals had backup supplies ready, and one major hospital's senior staff member said they could sustain services for 48 to 72 hours without mainline power. Meanwhile, many businesses and wealthy families had diesel or petrol-powered generators, which allowed them to continue working. However, the city was left without power for a long time, and some residents experienced a lack of telephone, Internet, or hot water.
The blackout was reported before midnight on January 10 across the country and affected major cities as well as smaller towns. Some areas had backup generators, but the entire country remained in darkness. The internet connection was 62% lower than normal, according to a monitoring service known as NetBlocks.
The Karachi Blackout triggered a wave of fear among residents of the city. On social media, residents expressed their worry and uncertainty over what might be coming next. One resident said on social media that he was afraid that India would replicate the Balakot airstrikes. He also pointed out that security forces in Pakistan are on alert for any unusual air activity.
According to K-Electric, about half of Karachi's population was without power, and it was expected to be restored in an hour or so. The MQM-P senator Faisal Subzwari called on the federal government to provide relief. Fortunately, the majority of the city was able to get power back within an hour, with just a few areas left without it.
The massive power outage in Pakistan has reportedly resulted from a major technical fault in the power distribution and generation system. The Energy Minister of Pakistan tweeted that the power will be restored in phases. First, power restoration in the capital city of Islamabad, and then most of the rest of the country. However, some areas remain without electricity, and some have been completely cut off. Social media has been filled with reports of blackouts in major urban centers.