ISLAMABAD, 23 MAY (DNA) – Takashi Kurai, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, on Monday inaugurated a project for installation of 6 water filtration plants in District Okara.

The filtration plants were completed with the financial support of US$ 82,282 provided by the Government of Japan to Ameer Begum Welfare Trust – a non-governmental organization actively working in the education sector.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by members of NGO, and community members from the vicinity who are benefiting from the facilities. The installation of these water filtration plants was made possible with the financial support from Embassy of Japan under its Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP) Program.

Before this initiative, the target population of Thesil Depalpur was suffering from a shortage of clean water, especially during the summer season. This had an adverse effect on the community, particularly in terms of health as evident by a high prevalence of waterborne diseases in the area. With the provision of safe drinking water through installation of water filtration plants, the project is now benefiting 6,755 households (approximately 50,500 individuals) 6 villages of Tehsil Depalpur in District Okara.

At the inauguration ceremony, Ambassador Kurai emphasized the urgent need of improving access to safe drinking water, particularly in rural areas of the country. He also expressed his sincere hope, representing the people of Japan, that this project will contribute to the improvement of basic conditions of life, alleviation of poverty and, further, to the sustainable growth of local economy as a whole.  DNA