Japan to help install smart water meters
The government of Japan has approved a grant of $3.5 million under its Economic and Social Development Programme for the installation of smart water meters and related equipment for the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA).
The agreement was signed in Islamabad between the Embassy of Japan and Pakistan's Economic Affairs Division.
WASA Managing Director Amir Aziz shared these developments while speaking with media representatives.
He said the project was part of broader efforts to support WASA's shift from a flat-rate to a metered billing system. The new system will include the installation of 8,400 smart water meters and aims to enhance the accuracy of billing, improve revenue collection, and increase efficiency in water distribution.
Aziz also noted that the Japanese development agency JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) has completed a project titled "Construction of Distribution Center and Rehabilitation of the Old Jhal Khanuana Water Treatment Plant" at a cost of Rs7,250 million.
Discussing other foreign-funded projects, the MD said WASA Faisalabad has revived three long-pending international initiatives.
These include the French-funded "Extension of Water Resources for Faisalabad City – Phase II" project, valued at Rs14,636.928 million.
According to Aziz, work on this project commenced with the signing of the contract on August 8, 2024, followed by site mobilization on October 8, 2024.
The tender for transmission was opened on April 7, 2025, and technical evaluation is currently underway. Once completed, it is expected to serve around six million residents.
Aziz also mentioned the Denmark-funded Eastern Wastewater Treatment Plant (Phase I) project, worth Rs56,036.79 million, which aims to build a 33 million gallons per day (MGD) treatment facility in Faisalabad.
The government of Punjab granted administrative approval on April 16, 2025, and loan agreement formalities with Denmark are in progress. The project aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 targets.
Regarding another JICA-assisted initiative, "Improvement of Management Capacity of Water Supply Sector in Faisalabad," Aziz stated that the project includes the digital monitoring of three overhead reservoirs and one disposal station.
Remote operations have begun and assessments of tube-well equipment have been completed. The project is estimated to serve two million people.
He further said the government of Punjab has also approved a new sewerage development package for Faisalabad city worth Rs10,810 million.
Chaudhary Rasheed Ahmad, retired chief engineer of the Public Health Department and a water expert, has emphasized the urgent need to implement smart water metering systems in light of the growing depletion of water resources, shortage of potable water, and widespread wastage of drinking water by the public.
He stated that smart metering could help prevent unnecessary use of water and contribute to its conservation.
He pointed out that in many households, potable piped water is used extensively for non-essential purposes such as washing utensils and vehicles, resulting in significant pressure on groundwater reserves.
Rasheed added that WASA Faisalabad currently has over 500,000 registered water consumers, and the installation of only 8,400 smart meters is insufficient to address the scale of the challenge.
Member of the Provincial Assembly, Chaudhary Faqir Hussain Dogar, also underlined the issue, noting that the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty by the Indian government has impacted Pakistan's water availability, exacerbating shortages in water bodies and canal systems.