On July 10, in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) reached an agreement with the Pakistani government on the implementation framework for the technical cooperation project titled “Project to Enhance Water Supply Management Capacity in Abbottabad,” and signed the Record of Discussions (Record of Discussions: R/D).
The signing ceremony took place on the day of the event, in the presence of Muhammad Humair Karim, Deputy Secretary of the Economic Relations Bureau at Pakistan’s Ministry of Economy, between Miran Mohiyuddin Soomro, Senior Director, and Yusuke Shinozaki, Director of the JICA Pakistan Office.
Scenes from the signing ceremony
This project targets the Abbottabad Water and Sanitation Corporation (WSSC-A), which is responsible for water services in Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, northern Pakistan, and aims to provide sustainable water supply services by strengthening the corporation’s operational and management capabilities.
In the city of Abotabad, the provision of stable and sustainable water services in urban areas has become a critical challenge, given that water service availability averages only about three hours every other day, compounded by rapid population growth and the effects of climate change.
WSSC-A faces both technical and financial challenges, including insufficient capacity for the operation and maintenance of water supply facilities, a low-rate flat-fee system, and a financial situation heavily reliant on subsidies. This project will leverage the knowledge and experience gained through efforts to improve public health and expand water supply access in Japan. It will work to enhance the sustainability of the water supply service by strengthening the implementation and monitoring of business plans, improving water distribution management capabilities, enhancing water quality management systems, and supporting the introduction and establishment of a volume-based billing system.
This project is aligned with JICA’s Global Agenda on “Securing Sustainable Water Resources and Water Supply” and also contributes to the development and promotion of “high-quality water supply” as outlined in the “Kumamoto Water Initiative(*)” promoted by the Government of Japan. Furthermore, it is expected to help strengthen regional resilience through climate change adaptation, the efficient use of water resources, and the conservation of water source environments.
*The “Kumamoto Water Initiative” is Japan’s international water assistance policy, announced by former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit held in Kumamoto City in April 2022. It aims to address challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region, such as floods, droughts, water pollution, inadequate sanitation, and climate change.
The business overview is as follows.
Project to Improve Water Utility Management Capabilities in Abotabad
The Project to Improve the Management Capacity of Water Supply Services in the City of Abbottabad
・Country (Target Region)
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
(Water supply area of the Abbottabad Water and Sanitation Authority in Abbottabad City, Abbottabad District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province)
・Business Objectives
This project aims to strengthen the operational management capabilities of the Abotabad Water and Sanitation Corporation (WSSC-A) within its service area by promoting the implementation and monitoring of WSSC-A’s business plan, and by enhancing its water distribution management, water quality management, and pay-as-you-go billing management capabilities, to strengthen WSSC-A’s operational and management capacity for its water supply services, thereby contributing to the provision of sustainable water supply services within WSSC-A’s service area.
・Scheduled Implementation Period
48 months
・Implementing Agency
Abotabad Water and Sanitation Corporation (WSSC-A)
・Contributing to the SDGs
Goal 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all)
Goal 6 (Ensure access to safe water and sanitation for all)
Goal 13 (Take concrete action on climate change)
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