Press release

The Government of Japan provides assistance worth US$ 328,619 to three Pakistani NGOs for social development projects

PRESS RELEASE N0: JPNEMPAK 14-11

Islamabad: 13 February 2014

The Government of Japan has decided to extend financial support totaling US$ 328,619 (approx. Rs. 35 million) to three Pakistani NGOs, namely, ASTAFADA (US$ 116,444), Participatory Welfare Services (US$ 102,745) and Sahara for Life Trust (US$ 109,430), for the improvement of water, education and health facilities respectively in rural parts of the country. The agreements for the three projects were signed on 13th February, 2014, at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence in Islamabad between H.E. Mr. Hiroshi Inomata, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan and the representatives of the three organizations.
The grant to ASTAFADA will be used for the installation of a fresh water distribution system in order to serve three villages in Muzaffarabad (AJK) that currently suffer from lack of potable water and prolonged water shortages. The grant to Participatory Welfare Services will be utilized for the construction of a girls’ primary school in District Layyah (Punjab) that will provide quality education to nearly 150 students at highly subsidized rates. Lastly, the grant to Sahara for Life Trust will be used for installing life-saving medical equipment at the Sughra Shafi Medical Complex in District Narowal (Punjab).
At the signing ceremony, Ambassador Inomata highlighted that Japan’s Official Development Assistance Programme to Pakistan attaches high importance to the improvement of people’s access to basic social services. He also expressed his hope that this assistance would result in uplifting the human well-being in the project areas and in doing so would undoubtedly strengthen the friendly relations between the people of Japan and Pakistan. (End)