The Government of Japan has decided to extend grant assistance of $132,826 to Aga Khan Cultural Service (AKCS) (a non-profit organisation), under the scheme of Grant Assistance for Grass Root Human Security Projects for two projects to improve the water environment for the people of Doqsa, Skardu, and Giram Altit in the Northern Areas of Pakistan, providing them access to safe drinking water and to improve public health conditions.
The contracts of these projects were signed on Friday, at the Japanese Ambassador Chihiro Atsumi residence in Islamabad between Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan and Salman Baig, Chief Executive Officer of Aga Khan Cultural Service. At the signing ceremony, the Japanese Ambassador stressed that the health sector is a priority area in Japan's Official Development Assistance policy.
He expressed his hope that these projects would improve the fundamental living standard of the people in Skardu and Giram Altit and contribute to strengthening the existing relationship between the people of Japan and Pakistan. The project for Water Filtration and Delivery for Village Doqsa and Skardu will construct a 3.9 km water pipeline and a water filtration facility, which will process 8640 gallons of polluted water per hour to supply safe drinking water to 1000 people in Doqsa, Skardu, Northern Area. The Project for Improvement of Community-based Environmental Sanitation, Giram Altit, Northern Areas' will construct a two km water pipeline and a water sewage disposal facility, which will process 32,040 gallons of sewage per hour to improve the sanitation of 1200 people in Giram Altit, Northern Area.