Audit: Rawalpindi’s MCR Outdated Streetlights Cause Massive Energy Waste, CO₂ Emissions
Stuck in the Past: Rawalpindi’s Streetlight System Lacks Basic Tech, Adds 845 Tonnes of Excess CO₂ Annually
Nadeem Tanoli
Rawalpindi: Rawalpindi’s outdated streetlight infrastructure is not only inefficient but is also inflicting serious environmental harm, according to a recent performance audit by the Auditor-General of Pakistan. The Municipal Corporation Rawalpindi (MCR) has been accused of failing to adopt even basic technological upgrades, leading to widespread energy waste, excessive carbon emissions, and operational inefficiencies.
The audit finds that the city’s streetlight network—comprising 30,672 fixtures—operates without a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based map, a tool now standard for planning, maintenance tracking, and public complaint resolution. Notably, even smaller cities like Daska and Jhang maintain public-facing GIS streetlight maps, leaving Rawalpindi’s lack of digital infrastructure especially glaring.
This technological shortfall extends beyond mapping. The city’s streetlights lack automatic sensors, meaning their operation is not centrally controlled. Instead, MCR has placed the burden of switching lights on and off onto the general public—a system the audit describes as “ad hoc and unreliable.” A public survey confirmed the impact of this gap, with over 60% of citizens reporting that streetlights were either not turned on at dusk or not turned off during daylight, resulting in significant energy waste.
The environmental consequences are substantial. Rawalpindi still relies on 14,715 conventional light fixtures rather than energy-efficient LED alternatives. This results in an estimated annual electricity waste of 1.95 million kilowatt-hours—enough to power thousands of homes. The additional power consumption contributes to the emission of 845.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO₂e) annually, exacerbating air pollution in an already smog-prone region.
The audit report underscores that by failing to transition to automated, energy-efficient systems, MCR is missing opportunities to reduce operating costs, improve service delivery, and cut carbon emissions in line with national environmental commitments. It calls on city administrators to develop a phased LED replacement strategy and implement modern control technologies, including GIS-based mapping and automated timers or sensors.
In a city where public safety, air quality, and fiscal efficiency are under increasing pressure, the continued use of obsolete technologies in the streetlight system represents a major policy and planning failure.
