Pakistan's power restored after blast blacks out 80% of country

Power is completely restored in Pakistan after a terrorist attack triggered a power failure and caused a blackout across about 80 per cent of the nation.

"There were miscreants who resorted to destroying two power pylons in Baluchistan," said Zafaryab Khan, spokesman at the water and power ministry, adding they haven't been identified yet.

"Their attack had plunged the country into darkness for an initial few minutes around the midnight hour, but we had things back and running in no time."

As of noon in Karachi, electricity was restored to 95 percent of the financial hub and the national grid's help was sought to restore it completely, Geo TV reported citing power company K-Electric Ltd.

Almost all cities, including the capital Islamabad, were affected as militants blew up a transmission line in Baluchistan province, state-run Radio Pakistan said, citing Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali.

The crisis is the latest to expose gaps in Pakistan's infrastructure that are hindering economic growth. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif cancelled a trip to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos last week as Pakistan's worst fuel shortage in recent memory threatened to revive street protests against his administration.

The southwestern Baluchistan province has faced an insurgency for decades, with locals demanding political autonomy and more control over its mineral resources.