Pindi Streetlights Waste Power, Fuel CO₂ Emissions: Audit Report

Nadeem Tanoli

Rawalpindi: A recent performance audit by the Auditor-General of Pakistan has revealed that Rawalpindi’s outdated streetlight infrastructure is not only highly inefficient but also a significant contributor to environmental degradation.

The report criticizes the Municipal Corporation Rawalpindi (MCR) for failing to modernize its streetlighting system, resulting in large-scale energy waste, excessive carbon emissions, and poor service delivery.

According to the audit, Rawalpindi’s streetlight network—comprising 30,672 fixtures—lacks a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based mapping system, a tool now considered essential for effective planning, maintenance, and public grievance redressal.

In contrast, smaller cities like Daska and Jhang already operate GIS-integrated, publicly accessible streetlight maps, making Rawalpindi’s absence of such infrastructure even more concerning.

The city also falls short in operational technology. Unlike modern cities that use automated sensors and centralized control systems, Rawalpindi’s streetlights are manually operated. In fact, the audit notes that the MCR has shifted the responsibility of switching streetlights on and off to the general public—a method the report describes as “ad hoc and unreliable.”

A public survey cited in the audit reveals that over 60% of citizens observed streetlights either not turning on at dusk or staying on during the day, directly contributing to energy wastage.

Environmentally, the implications are alarming. Out of the total, 14,715 streetlights still use conventional bulbs rather than energy-efficient LED fixtures.

This outdated setup results in an estimated 1.95 million kilowatt-hours of wasted electricity annually—enough to power thousands of homes. The audit further estimates this translates into 845.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO₂e) emissions each year, exacerbating the city’s worsening air pollution and smog problem.

The report warns that by not transitioning to energy-efficient technologies and automated systems, MCR is missing a critical opportunity to reduce operational costs, enhance public safety, and align with Pakistan’s environmental commitments.

It recommends a phased rollout of LED replacements, implementation of GIS-based mapping, and integration of automated sensors and timers for better management and energy conservation.

At a time when cities across Pakistan are facing rising energy demands, deteriorating air quality, and budget constraints, Rawalpindi’s outdated streetlight system stands out as a stark example of policy inertia and planning failure.