ISLAMABAD   -  The government of Japan has extended its grant Rs6 billion 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. 

Federal Secretary for Economic Affairs Division, Noor Ahmed and Ambassador of Japan Kuninori Matsuda has signed the exchange notes and record of discussions on behalf of their governments, said a press release issued by the Ministry of Economic Affairs here on Saturday.

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 Metropolitan Corporation of Islamabad worth $4.7 million.

Talking on the occasion, Secretary, Economic Affairs Division expressed that Pakistan valued the reciprocal and congenial relations with Japan and both countries shared 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. 

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