ISLAMABAD: The Government of Japan in partnership with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) initiated a programme worth approximately USD 2.7 million to support the rehabilitation and retrofitting of schools damaged by the floods in different regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The project, titled ‘Strengthen the disaster resilience of educational infrastructure in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province’, aims to restore safe, resilient and functional learning environments by strengthening school structures and improving ventilation and lighting.
Due to the geographical characteristics, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is prone to climate‑driven hazards. The 2025 cloudbursts and flash floods damaged 437 schools, severely disrupting education services especially in Swat and Buner among the hardest-hit districts.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Ambassador of Japan, Akamatsu Shuichi, appreciated the collaborative partnership and reaffirmed Japan’s continued support to Pakistan’s resilience agenda.
Ambassador Akamatsu emphasised that strengthening school infrastructure is a critical investment in protecting children and ensuring continuity of education in the face of climate induced disasters.
Kazuko Ishigaki, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, UN-Habitat, highlighted UN-Habitat’s leadership in delivering safer learning environments.
She noted that the retrofitted schools will provide structurally stable classrooms, improved ventilation and essential WASH services, enabling children to learn with confidence, safety and dignity.
Sugawara Takayuki, Senior Representative of JICA, underscored that this project addresses the JICA’s approach to disaster risk reduction principally by “Promoting Build Back Better”.
He mentioned that JICA promotes this concept to ensure that the country as a whole including the affected areas can rebuild in a way that is more resilient to future disasters.
By positioning schools as hubs for disaster preparedness and response, the project will extend preparedness and first-aid benefits to surrounding communities, strengthening local resilience and emergency response capacities.
Mohamed Yahya, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, expressed appreciation to the Government of Japan and JICA for their partnership with Pakistan and the United Nations.
He highlighted that the initiative aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and supports Pakistan’s implementation of the Sendai Framework, advancing resilience for the most vulnerable communities.
It will also reinstate gender-sensitive WASH facilities, ensuring dignity, privacy and accessibility for girls and children with disabilities.
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