Islamabad, October 26,2026: Japan has funded the construction of a link road in Village Numbal, Tehsil Murree, Punjab, to improve safe transportation for students and local residents, with Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan Akamatsu Shuichi inaugurating the project on Monday.
The project was implemented by Al Mezan Islamic Model School with financial assistance of $64,528 provided by the Government of Japan under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) programme.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Murree District Education Officer Sidra Batool, officials of the Japanese Embassy, representatives of Al Mezan Islamic Model School, teachers, students, parents and community members.
The completed project features a durable concrete link road and protective culverts over local water channels, replacing vulnerable dirt paths and improving resilience against flooding.
The school and local residents also contributed additional resources, including land valued at Rs4.5 million, technical supervision and locally sourced stone materials, demonstrating strong community participation.
The road addresses longstanding transportation challenges in the village, where inadequate infrastructure had made daily travel difficult and created serious risks, particularly during emergencies. It will enable more than 500 students to travel to school safely without crossing flood-prone stream beds and improve access to healthcare facilities and markets for 2,540 local residents.
Addressing the ceremony, Ambassador Akamatsu congratulated Al Mezan Islamic Model School on completing the project despite challenging terrain and harsh weather conditions.
He emphasised that safe and reliable basic infrastructure is essential for improving people’s lives and supporting sustainable development. He particularly highlighted the importance of safe roads to schools in ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn and build a better future.
The ambassador reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to Pakistan’s sustainable development and expressed hope that the road would serve as a lasting symbol of the longstanding friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
