A general view shows Pakistan's capital Islamabad during a power blackout early on Jan 10, 2021. (AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)

ISLAMABAD - Hundreds of millions of Pakistanis were left without power late Saturday owing to a technical fault in the country's power distribution system, said government officials.

The blackout began at about 11:50 pm local time on Saturday when power failures were reported in all major cities, including Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi and Rawalpind.

“A countrywide blackout has been caused by a sudden plunge in the frequency in the power transmission system,” Pakistan’s Power Minister Omar Ayub Khan said on Twitter.

ALSO READ: Mexico power outage leaves 10.3m temporarily in the dark

People are silhouetted on vehicle headlights on a dark street during widespread power outages in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Jan. 10, 2021. (ANJUM NAVEED / AP)

He said efforts were underway to determine the reasons behind the situation, and asked people across the country to remain calm.

The National Transmission and Despatch Company said it may take a while to restore power.