Karachi, In a move towards sustainable urban development, Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab announced the conversion of street lights on three major highways to solar power. The initiative, aimed at reducing energy costs and ensuring consistent street lighting, will begin with Sharea Faisal, Marine Drive Road, and Shahrah-e-Iran and Shahrah-e-Firdousi.

According to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, the project is part of a broader effort by the city to transition 106 major highways to solar energy. The change is expected to not only save the Karachi Municipal Corporation significant amounts in electricity costs but also to alleviate the effects of frequent power outages that leave major roads dark and compromise safety.

The mayor detailed that regular tenders have already been issued for installing these solar-powered lights, with the project being carried out in partnership with the Competitive and Livable City of Karachi (Click) initiative. This transition is set to be a key component of Karachi’s infrastructure enhancement, focusing on the sustainability and reliability of public utilities.

In addition to lighting, the maintenance of these roads and the new lighting systems will be managed by the contracting companies, which are obligated to maintain them for the next five years as part of their agreement.

Mayor Wahab emphasized that this development is in line with the Pakistan Peoples Party’s vision for Karachi and reflects the local government’s commitment to improving municipal facilities. He instructed that the installation of solar-powered street lights be completed within the stipulated timeframe to facilitate subsequent projects on other major highways.