ISLAMABAD: The government of Japan has extended its grant-in-aid of Japanese Yen 4.09 billion (Rs6 billion approximately) for “Improvement of Water Treatment Plant and Water Distribution System in Faisalabad” aiming to increase the production capacity of the water treatment plant, transmission and distribution systems in Faisalabad city.

Noor Ahmed, secretary, Economic Affairs Division and Kuninori Matsuda, ambassador of Japan, signed the exchange notes and record of discussions on behalf of their governments.

This is the third intervention by the Japanese government in WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) to address the issues being faced by urban cities in Pakistan.

The similar assistance was extended to Faisalabad for replacement of pumping machinery at in-line booster pump station and terminal reservoirs worth $13.4 million and to the Metropolitan Corporation of Islamabad worth US$ 4.7 million.

Talking on the occasion, secretary, Economic Affairs Division expressed that Pakistan values the reciprocal and congenial relations with Japan and both the countries share mutual stance on most of the regional and international affairs.

He further stated that Pakistan was one of the developing countries where the limited water resources were depleting drastically due to rapid population growth and increasing economic activities, and water was the core source of not only sustainability of life but also various developmental sectors such as health, agriculture, energy, urban, and industrial development.

Therefore, Japan’s assistance regarding water and sanitation is highly valued by Pakistan.

Japanese economic assistance has played and shall continue to play a vital role in the socio-economic uplift of Pakistan.

Ambassador Matsuda stressed that this is the single largest grant-in-aid from Japan to Pakistan this year.

And on a lighter note, he remarked that instead of being known as the land of rising sun, Japan may be called as a source of clean drinking water after this assistance.

JICA Chief, Furuta emphasised that Faisalabad is the 3rd most populated city of Pakistan with a population of 3.8 million, limited water resources and ineffective water distribution network along with threats of industrial wastes and sewerage deposits flowing into the water supply pose serious environmental and health hazards.

This project will enhance the capacity of WASA Faisalabad in distribution of clean drinking water supply to the city.

And this project will build capacity of the Punjab government to replicate the same model in the other cities.

Jabbar Anwar, managing director, WASA Faisalabad thanked the Japanese government for providing this grant for uplifting of the city’s water supply system.

The MD, WASA assured of quick implementation of this project, so that the citizens of Faisalabad could benefit from this Japanese assistance at the earliest.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021