JICA President Dr. Akihiko Tanaka Reviews Development Achievements, Explores Future Cooperation During Pakistan Visit

By Muhammad Shahzad | Lahore, Pakistan

LAHORE: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Dr. Akihiko Tanaka is on an official visit to Pakistan from August 1 to 5 to review the progress of Japan-supported development projects and discuss avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation.

The visit marks Dr. Tanaka’s first official trip to Pakistan and the first by a JICA president since 2020. During his stay, he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, and other senior government officials, in addition to visiting key JICA-funded development projects.

As Japan’s implementing agency for Official Development Assistance (ODA), JICA has supported Pakistan’s socio-economic development for more than seven decades. Guided by its vision of “Leading the World with Trust,” the agency has contributed to a wide range of sectors, including education, healthcare, disaster management, gender equality, governance, private sector development, information and communication technology (ICT), as well as infrastructure projects such as roads, electricity networks, and water supply systems.

A key highlight of Dr. Tanaka’s visit is the inspection of projects under the Faisalabad Water Supply Improvement Project, one of Japan’s flagship urban infrastructure initiatives in Pakistan. Faisalabad, the country’s third-largest city, has long faced growing pressure on its water supply system due to rapid urbanisation and population growth.

To address these challenges, JICA supported the preparation of the Faisalabad Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Master Plan between 2016 and 2019, establishing a long-term roadmap for sustainable water and sanitation services through 2038.

Building on the master plan, JICA provided grant assistance worth JPY 4.094 billion for the Project for the Improvement of Water Treatment Plant and Water Distribution System in Faisalabad. The project included the construction of the Old Jhal Khanuana (Old JK) Water Treatment Plant with a treatment capacity of five million gallons per day, along with upgrades to the city’s water transmission and distribution network.

Since becoming operational in April 2025, the facility has significantly improved access to safe and reliable drinking water for residents of Faisalabad.

During his visit to Faisalabad, Dr. Tanaka will inspect the Old JK Water Treatment Plant, which may be expanded under a proposed Japanese ODA loan programme. He will also visit transmission and distribution facilities where digital transformation (DX) technologies have enhanced operational efficiency and meet local households benefiting from improved water services.

JICA said the visit aims to demonstrate the tangible impact of Japanese development cooperation on local communities while highlighting the Faisalabad project as a model for improving urban water services in other Pakistani cities.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the Government of Pakistan and relevant stakeholders through Japanese ODA programmes to improve the quality of life of the Pakistani people and further strengthen the longstanding partnership between Japan and Pakistan.