ISLAMABAD: Energy-efficient Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are becoming popular in Pakistan for their potential to increase people’s access to electric lighting, reduce the burden of bills on them and keep the environment clean.
Haseeb Khalid, manager at Telecast Technology Pakistan Private Limited, told WealthPK that his company manufactured different kinds of electronic items with a special surge protector stand-by capacitor to control power fluctuations. These are mercury-free and energy-efficient.
“The government has fixed import duty at 17 percent to encourage the people associated with the LED market to increase plastic injection molding operations and produce all of the assembling parts domestically,” he said.
According to Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), a complete shift to LED lighting in Pakistan can save 0.7 metric tonnes of mercury, avoid the emission of 33 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide and save $6.5 billion in electricity bills between 2020-2050.
The value of the global LED lighting market reached about $59.26 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $135.58 billion by 2028.
The increasing use of energy-efficient lighting solutions, lowering costs of light-emitting diodes and enhanced infrastructure building activities are the major factors driving the market.
In addition, growing environmental awareness, the durability of LED lighting, and favourable government policies also contribute to the growth of the market.
It is predicted that the transition to energy-efficient lighting will decrease the global electricity demand for lighting by 30 to 40 percent in 2030.
Pakistan, the world’s sixth most populated country, still lacks full access to reliable electricity and witnesses the highest number of power blackouts. Energy is currently the most significant contributor to Pakistan’s emissions profile, accounting for almost 46 percent of total emissions.
Energy consumption has continuously increased in parallel with population growth, resulting in an intensifying energy problem.
“Pakistan needs to eliminate fluorescent lighting and accelerate the transition to energy-efficient LEDs. This will benefit the country in terms of both environmental and energy efficiency,” the expert told WealthPK.
-INP
