June 19, 2015
News
Japan to improve water supply system in Lahore, Faisalabad
ISLAMABAD: The Government of Japan has agreed to provide grants worth 4.17 billion Yen (Rs 3.4 billion) to the Government of Pakistan through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in order to improve water systems in Lahore and Faisalabad.
The bilateral agreements were signed for “Project for Energy Saving in Water Supply System in Lahore” and “Project for Replacement of Pumping Machinery at Inline Booster Pumping Station and Terminal Reservoir in Faisalabad” between Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan Hiroshi Inomata and Economic Affairs Division (EAD) Secretary Saleem Sethi. On the occasion, Grant Agreements on the details of implementation of these projects were signed between JICA Chief Representative Mitsuyoshi Kawasaki and EAD Joint Secretary Mujtaba Hussain.
The project in Lahore would contribute to energy saving of water supply facilities and restoration of water production capacity through replacement of pumping equipment. 105 deteriorated underground water pumps would be replaced with the latest pumps.
In order to improve proper operation and maintenance of tube wells, energy audit instruments would be introduced. Both steps would have a synergetic effect on lowering the high-energy cost for Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) of Lahore.
The agreement for detailed design for this project was signed earlier on January 28, while funding for actual construction in this project was agreed on Thursday (June 19).
Under the project in Faisalabad, aged pumps would be renewed and the efficiency of the pump stations and reservoirs, which were previously installed under Asian Development Bank (ADB), would be improved. By doing so, the project is expected to reduce electricity cost and increase daily water supply.
Over the decade, Japan has been focusing its assistance, worth 6.6 billion yen (Rs 5.5 billion) in total, on improving water supply and sewerage in Faisalabad and improving capacity of WASA Faisalabad so that the city would be a model of advancement in the country.
Recognising huge challenges of water supply in urban areas caused by rapid population growth and referring to Japan’s contribution in the water sector, Hiroshi Inomata reaffirmed Japan’s commitment for stable and efficient water supply in Pakistan and said, “Both projects would contribute to stable water supply and saving energy, and bring about a synergetic effect with Japan’s on-going and completed projects.”
Kawasaki, on the occasion, said JICA has supported improvement of water services by financial assistance to build infrastructure and technical assistance to reduce energy cost and contribute to the better water service through proper infrastructure.
He said the two newly agreed projects are to enhance sustainable operation of water utilities in terms of water service as well as financial efficiency.
The Government of Japan committed in November 2013 that it would provide 1.6 trillion Yen (Rs 1.4 trillion) of public and private finance over a period of three years from 2013 to 2015 to developing countries, which included Pakistan, to counter climate change. The two projects agreed today were a part of this commitment.Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk