In a major step toward creating an eco-friendly urban environment, the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) has launched a phased solarization project for the city’s streetlights. Beginning on September 16, the first phase covers the installation of solar-powered lights along Marine Drive, the city’s main artery, Gwadar Pro reported on Wednesday.

In the second phase, other major roads—including Syed Zahoor Hashmi Road, Airport Road, Capt (R) Tariq Zehri Road, Gwadar Port Road, and Baba-e-Bizenjo Football Stadium Road—will also be illuminated with solar lights. This initiative is expected to not only curb incidents of electricity cable theft but also ensure that streets remain lit during load-shedding hours, providing much-needed safety and convenience for commuters traveling at night.

Thanks to earlier efforts by Chinese companies, several streets and public spaces in Gwadar have already been lit by solar energy. A total of 73 solar-powered streetlights were previously installed in busy public areas: 18 at the junction of the East Bay Expressway and the jetty, 19 at the fish landing area on West Bay along Marine Drive, 26 at the fish harbor jetty, and 10 at the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ).

Local residents told Gwadar Pro they are optimistic that the expansion of solar streetlights will improve safety and allow commercial activities—particularly fishing—to continue into the night with better visibility. Meanwhile, in 2022, 4,000 sets of solar photovoltaic systems and LED lights were donated to local households by Chinese companies in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy and China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

This additional effort further highlights China’s role in supporting the well-being of Gwadar’s residents.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China