Japan pledges $40 million to improve Abbottabad’s water supply

Japan has pledged $40 million to improve water supply in Abbottabad and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

ISLAMABAD: Japan has pledged $40 million to improve water supply in Abbottabad, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, which will allow 216,000 people to access safe drinking water.

Under the project, safe drinking water would be provided from rivers, in addition to improving the existing ground water system.

Both the countries exchanged notes on the project on Tuesday, which was a prerequisite for the formal approval of the grant by the Japanese parliament.

The Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan, Chihiro Atsumi, said that the pledged amount was part of a $1 billion assistance committed at the donors’ conference held in Tokyo last year.

Atsumi said that with the latest commitment his country has provided over $500 million to Pakistan so far. Japan has signed various agreements amounting to $474 million under its $1 billion aid package.

It was the second announcement within 24 hours by the donors who had committed to provide $5.2 billion to Pakistan under a two-year assistance package. On Monday, France signed an agreement worth 26.5 million euros and also unveiled a €183.3 million plan to help Pakistan’s energy sector.

The disbursements, however, were still behind schedule despite signing of various agreements. Bilateral and multilateral donors had provided less than $1 billion by June 30 as compared with estimates of $2.5 billion, according to official statistics.

US President Barack Obama’s Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan recently claimed that his country had provided $520 million out of the pledged $1 billion. However, the government estimates put it at less than $300 million.

The Abbottabad Water Supply System would help mitigate the woes of inhabitants. People have been suffering acute water scarcity due to rapid urbanisation, population growth and ground water depletion in recent years.

The project would enable 216,000 inhabitants to access safe drinking water. After completion in three years, the scheme is expected to provide safe drinking water to 92 per cent population of the district from the existing 56 per cent.

The Japanese ambassador said that his country would continue assisting Pakistan in getting access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. He said that the $1 billion pledged amount would be spent on social development.

Secretary Economic Affairs Division said that the donors were giving priority to the water and power sectors. He said only Asian Development Bank has committed $2.9 billion under a multi-tranche financing facility for the energy sector.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2010.