Islamabad – UNS- On November 11, 2026, His Excellency Mr. Akamatsu Shuichi, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, attended the inauguration ceremony for “The Project for the Installation of Water Supply System in Village Bakki, Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa”. The project was implemented by Friends Welfare Association (FWA) Pakistan, a non governmental organization dedicated to supporting vulnerable communities in Pakistan through education, healthcare, WASH facilities, and community development.
The Government of Japan, through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Program, provided financial assistance of USD 59,764 for this project. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Mr. Sardar Shahjehan Yousaf, Member of the Provincial Assembly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mr. Asad Mehmood Lodhi, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Mansehra, along with officials of the Embassy of Japan, representatives of FWA, members of the local WASH Committee, and community members.
FWA has successfully completed the construction of the Gravity Flow Water Supply System, including 6,013 meters of galvanized iron main supply pipes and a water intake tank. FWA and the local community also contributed additional resources for excavation work, local transportation of materials, and water quality testing to ensure a safe and reliable water supply.
To support the long-term sustainability of the project, FWA also established a 20 member WASH Committee and provided its members with training in water quality management, hygiene promotion, and the operation and maintenance of the system.
This project responds to the critical need for clean water in Village Bakki, where residents, especially women and girls, have faced significant daily hardships in collecting water. The newly installed system provides safe drinking water to over 6,000 residents, contributing to improved health, reduced burdens of water collection, greater educational opportunities for children, and an improved quality of life for the entire community.
In his address at the ceremony, Ambassador Akamatsu congratulated FWA on the successful completion of the project and emphasized that access to safe water is essential to improving people’s lives and supporting sustainable development of society.
He highlighted that improved access to safe water would reduce the daily burden of water collection, particularly for women and girls, create greater educational opportunities for children, improve quality of life, and contribute to better health for the entire community. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of proper maintenance to ensure the long term sustainability of the water supply system.
Ambassador Akamatsu reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting the sustainable development of Pakistan and expressed his hope that this water supply system would serve as a lasting symbol of friendship between Japan and Pakistan.
