Pakistan

Agreement signed for clean drinking water

Germany to provide grant to improve the drinking water supply, sanitation conditions of Chitral, Gilgit-Baltistan.

Express August 11, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Germany will provide the Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan (AKFP) with a grant of € 3.12 million to improve the drinking water supply and sanitation conditions of Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan areas. This money will be provided for the implementation of the second phase of the Water and Sanitation Extension Program (WASEP), a program that is run by the AKFP planning and building service.

Dr Anna-Christine Janke, director of the development bank KfW in Islamabad and Dr Karim Alibhai, Chief Executive Officer AKFP signed the agreement for the second phase of the project in Islamabad. Dr Karim Alibahi said that with the completion of the first stage of the second phase, estimated within the next six months, around 45, 000 people from 50 villages in GB will have access to clean drinking water and basic sanitation facilities. According to details, this project will benefit approximately 245, 000 people in 307 villages of Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan. The construction of a potable water supply, on-site sanitation infrastructure, grey-water drainage infrastructure, community mobilisation, health and hygiene education will be provided though the completion of this project.

The first phase of the project has been successfully implemented in Chitral and GB a decade ago. The Aga Khan Foundation hopes to use these funds to help in the rehabilitation of the water supply and sanitation facilities in the flood affected areas. “I hope that more contributions will be made to Pakistan to help in the recovery and rehabilitation of the affected families,” Janke said.

“Germany and AKFP are longstanding partners and we will continue to cooperate with each other in order to find creative solutions to the numerous development challenges faced by Pakistan,” Dr. Karim Alibahi said. Press release

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (4)

Israr-uddin | 14 years ago | Reply The achievements of AKDN institutions is not the physical infrastructure they have built but the social responsibility they have created among the communities to take care of their built infrastructure.The poeple in Chitral who rely on AKDN built phisical infrastructure do not wait for Govt. but they do volunteer their time and money and do all the repair work at their own. So the confidence of Germans on AKDN is very natural.

Mohammad Afzal Khan | 14 years ago | Reply In district like Chitral Govt has done nothing visible for the flood effectees as thousands of people are still disconnected with rest of the world. They do not have access to food items and other necessary materials. As roads and other ways of communication are demaged therefore there is visible chance of lack of necessary food items including safe drinking water. Yesterday Mr, Salim Khan Minister KPK has anounced preliminary support package for the effectees which is appreciateable as he has done noticeable work within last few years. AKDN has always done remarkable job for the humanity specialy for the marganalised group of people. We appreciate AKFP for its work in areas like Chitral.

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Asiya Dawood | 14 years ago | Reply i really appriciate the effort of Aga Khan Foundation for their care for humanity...In current situation of flood most of areas of chitral are deprived of drinking water except those areas which have access to WASEP water..I am not expecting any good deed from present governement, as the attitude of our president is too much irresponsible.Pure water is the basic need of every individual.this effort of AKFP will be very helpful in upgrating the life standard of the people of the locality by improving their health condition...thanks

Mahmoud S. Aziz | 14 years ago | Reply The Pakistani Government has responded pathetically to the flood crisis in N.W. Pakistan. More than 15 million people have been displaced and the Government is still vacillating. Contrast this to the immediate, proactive response of the Chinese government to the mudslide in Gansu Province, N.W China. Meanwhile, when the crisis occurred, President Zardari - instead of immediately returning home from Paris/London to respond to the crisis and loss of lives, as most leaders would - shamelessly gallavants in Paris and London to promote himself an his son. He truly is a pathetic excuse for a president. The lack of response to this crises is less to do with financial ability and more to do with lack of political will and leadership. Pakistan should stop squandering its budget on defense spending and instead develop the country's woeful rural infrastructure.

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