Islamabad, November 11, 2026: Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan Akamatsu Shuichi on Wednesday inaugurated a water supply project in Village Bakki, Mansehra, aimed at providing safe drinking water to more than 6,000 residents.
The project, titled “The Project for the Installation of Water Supply System in Village Bakki, Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa”, was implemented by Friends Welfare Association (FWA) Pakistan, with financial assistance of $59,764 from the Government of Japan under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) programme.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Sardar Shahjehan Yousaf, Additional Deputy Commissioner Mansehra Asad Mehmood Lodhi, officials of the Japanese Embassy, FWA representatives, members of the local Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Committee and community members.
Under the project, FWA completed the construction of a gravity-flow water supply system, including 6,013 metres of galvanised iron main supply pipes and a water intake tank.
FWA and the local community also contributed additional resources for excavation, transportation of construction materials and water quality testing to ensure a safe and reliable supply.
To ensure the project’s long-term sustainability, FWA 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.
The project addresses the longstanding water supply challenges faced by residents of Village Bakki, particularly women and girls, who previously had to endure considerable daily hardships to collect water.
The newly installed system is expected to benefit more than 6,000 residents by improving access to safe drinking water, reducing the burden of water collection, creating greater educational opportunities for children and improving public health and overall quality of life.
Addressing the ceremony, Ambassador Akamatsu congratulated FWA on successfully completing the project and emphasised that access to safe drinking water was essential for improving people’s lives and promoting sustainable development.
He said improved access to clean water would particularly ease the daily hardships faced by women and girls, provide children with greater opportunities to pursue education and contribute to better health and living standards across the community.
The ambassador also stressed the importance of proper operation and maintenance of the system to ensure its long-term sustainability.
Reaffirming Japan’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s sustainable development, Ambassador Akamatsu expressed hope that the water supply system would serve as a lasting symbol of friendship and cooperation between Japan and Pakistan
