Karachi power cuts hit millions

Pakistan's state-run utility said it had cut supplies to Karachi because the city's power company had not paid its bills. Outages occurred in the morning.

Some power was later restored, and officials say it will be fully back on within a day or two.

Karachi has a population of more than 13 million, and is home to two main ports and Pakistan's stock market.

Unanswered letters

A spokesman for Pakistan's main power utility, Wapda, said it had cut the supply of 300 Megawatts, because Karachi's power company owed the firm about $554m.

"We have been writing to them every week to make at least some payments, but they're not even replying to our letters," said Wapda spokesman Tahir Basharat Cheema.

Pakistan suffers acute power shortages because of inadequate generating capacity and theft of electricity from power lines.

Last June crowds took to the streets in Karachi to protest against the high number of power cuts.

Correspondents say the cuts were one of the main things that angered voters in the run up to last month's parliamentary election, which opposition parties won.