LAHORE (Dunya News) – Major cities of Pakistan including Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar on Thursday plunged into darkness due to the massive city-wide electricity breakdown.



The power supply was halted to various districts as fire erupted at main transformer of Guddu Thermal Power House in Kashmore while the electricity has also been suspended to Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) after transmission lines in Sheikhupura tripped.



According to initial details, fire fighters are busy in dousing the blaze.



Lesco officials assured to have started inspection into the matter however, they said technical glitch was developed in the power grid that resulted in huge flames. Mangla and Tarbela power stations have also stopped electricity supply.



The outage is affecting large number of cities including Attock, Jhelum, Multan and Faislabad, said officials.



People in various localities are facing hardship because of the widespread breakdown however, restoration work has been launched.

Earlier today, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali informed the National Assembly that construction work on Dasu Dam project will be executed in the next few months.

He said the project cost is 486,093.30 million rupees.

The minister said the World Bank has approved the financing of Stage-I of Dasu Hydropower project.

He also informed the House that work on Munda Dam will also be started by the end of this year. He said the dam is in study phase and its detailed engineering design, preparation of PC-I and tender documents are in progress.