Last Update: January 24, 2023, 12:33 pm IST
A man uses a battery operated light as he works at a shop during a power failure in Karachi, Pakistan (Image: Reuters)
A top Biden administration official said that if the US receives a request from Pakistan, it will help the country
The US is ready to assist Pakistan solve its power crisis, a top Biden administration official has said, hours after the South Asian country faced nationwide power outages due to “frequency variations” in the national grid.
According to the Energy Ministry, the national grid’s system of frequencies went down at 7:34 a.m. local time on Monday, resulting in a breakdown that left millions of people without power, the second such outage in nearly four months. .
“Of course, (we) have seen what has happened in Pakistan. Our thoughts are with all those affected by the outage. As you mentioned, certainly the US has helped our Pakistani allies in whatever challenges they may have.
“We are prepared to do so in this case, if that is something we are able to provide. But I am not yet aware of any specific requests,” he said.
Pakistan is grappling with one of the country’s worst economic crisis in recent years amid dwindling foreign exchange reserves.
The crisis earlier this month prompted the government to order shopping malls and markets to close by 8:30 pm for energy conservation purposes.
The pathetic condition of the country’s power sector is indicative of its ailing economy.
Power outages are frequent due to lack of funds to upgrade its aging infrastructure.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)