ISLAMABAD: A water supply project funded by the Government of Japan inaugurated in Village Bakki, Mansehra, providing clean drinking water to more than 6,000 residents, particularly easing the daily hardships faced by women and girls in collecting water.
The project was implemented by Friends Welfare Association (FWA) Pakistan, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to supporting vulnerable communities through education, healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, and community development.
According to a statement issued by the Embassy of Japan, the Government of Japan provided $59,764 in financial assistance for the project through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) programme.
The newly installed system provides safe drinking water to more than 6,000 residents, helping improve public health, reduce the burden of water collection, create greater educational opportunities for children and enhance the overall quality of life in the community, the statement added.
FWA successfully completed the construction of a gravity-flow water supply system, including 6,013 metres of galvanised iron main supply pipes and a water intake tank.
The organisation and the local community also contributed additional resources for excavation work, the local transportation of materials and water quality testing to ensure a safe and reliable supply.
Japanese Ambassador Akamatsu Shuichi congratulated FWA on the successful completion of the project and emphasised that access to safe drinking water was essential to improving people’s lives and promoting sustainable social development.
He said improved access to safe water would reduce the daily burden of water collection, particularly for women and girls, create greater educational opportunities for children, improve living standards and contribute to better health across the community.
He also stressed the importance of proper maintenance to ensure the long-term sustainability of the water supply system.
The ambassador reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s sustainable development and expressed hope that the project would serve as a lasting symbol of friendship between Japan and Pakistan.
The ceremony was attended by Sardar Shahjehan Yousaf, Member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly; Asad Mehmood Lodhi, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Mansehra; officials of the Embassy of Japan; FWA representatives; members of the local WASH Committee; and community members.
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