Japan provides assistance worth US$359,877 for building community infrastructure

ISLAMABAD: The Government of Japan has extended financial support totalling US$ 359,877 (approx. Rs. 35 million) to three Pakistani NGOs: Ayun and Valleys Development Programme (US$ 120,571), Courage Development Foundation (US$ 123,349) and SUKHI (US$ 115,957).

The grants will help their activities to improve infrastructure and provide clean water in rural parts of the country.

The agreements for the three projects were signed here on Monday at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence between Mr. Hiroshi OE, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan and the Presidents of the three organizations.

The grant to the Ayun and Valleys Development Programme will be used for the construction of four tracks and one bridge in the Ayun and Rumboor Valleys of Chitral in order to facilitate transportation for around 7,400 people in the area.

The grants to the Courage Development Foundation and SUKHI will enable the installation of water supply systems in small villages of Dera Ghazi Khan and Haripur/ Murree respectively, benefiting nearly 5,300 people who currently have poor access to clean water.

At the signing ceremony, Ambassador Oe highlighted the importance of building rural infrastructure and improving of access to clean water for the economic and social development of Pakistan.

He also expressed his hope that these interventions would result in uplifting the quality of life of the people of the project areas and in doing so would further enrich the cherished relations between the people of Japan and Pakistan.