Japan extends $202,288 grant for three projects
By Bushra Rafique

ISLAMABAD—The Government of Japan today extended a grant of 202,288 US dollars (approx. 12 million rupees) to three non-profit organizations for their water supply, sanitation and health sector projects under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) scheme.
The agreements for these carefully selected social sector development projects were signed by His Excellency, Mr. Nobuaki Tanaka, Ambassador of Japan, and representatives of the respective organizations in Islamabad today. The details for these three projects are as follows:
The grassroots support of Japan for the project for installation of water filtration plant in Shams Pir Island, Sindh, is aimed at benefiting a unique project for provision of potable water to the residents of Shams Pir Island located some 15 km from Karachi city. Presently, the local residents have to travel almost 30km round trip by boat on a routine basis to fetch drinking water for daily use. The local community consumes an estimated 12 to 14 thousand gallons every day and thus enormous time and monetary costs are borne despite the fact that availability of clean drinking water is possible on the island itself.
Japanese assistance will enable the trust to install a Reverse Osmosis plant along with purchase of a computer and necessary furniture for the operation room. The reverse osmosis plant will be installed in the centre of the Shams Pit Island. A 60 meters deep bore hole will be dug at this point, as the sea water salinity at such a depth reduces by 60 to 70 %. The remaining salinity will be treated through the Osmosis plant, collected in a large water tank and made available through 5 taps for usage 24 hours a day on payment of a nominal amount of Rs. 0.5 per gallon, charged to ensure sustainability of the project.
The project will benefit 5000 residents, mainly local. The benefits accruing mean women responsible for fetching water will now have more time available for other household chores; men would have more time for income generating activities i.e. fishing and the health of the local children would benefit through the provision of clean drinking water. It is expected that the project model may be followed by adjacent island communities.
Japan's support for project for increasing TB case detection and treatment in Baluchistan and Sindh, is aimed at complementing the TB case detection and treatment outcomes project being implemented by Mercy Corps in 9 remote districts of Balochistan and 4 districts of Sindh having a total population of 6.3 million. The project focuses on improving the government capacity to provide TB DOTS services and mobilize committees to seek treatment.
Pakistan is the eighth highest TB burdened country in the world. The estimated burden of the smear-positive strain of TB in Pakistan is around 177 per 100,000. Through the grassroots support, 26 microscopes will be provided to selected TB diagnostic centres for improving case detections. 13 motorbikes, one for each district, will be provided to community mobilizers for enhancing awareness and reaching out at the Tehsil level. Office equipment and furniture will be extended for the head office in Quetta and three district cluster offices to ensure effective project implementation. It is estimated that a total of 11,230 TB patients will directly benefit through improved diagnosis and treatment services. Another 2,592 doctors, laboratory technicians, paramedics, health managers and coordinators, community health workers and district managers will be extended necessary trainings. It is expected that the project will improve the lives of patients suffering from tuberculosis.
Government of Japan's grassroots assistance for the project for installation of drinking water supply and sanitation system at Dara Adham Khal in FR Kohat, FATA, is to ensure provision of better water supply and sanitation facilities tot residents of the Data Adam Khel area and frontier region of Kohat. The proposed project areas have been adversely affected by the long drought that lasted for almost six years, coupled with lesser rains and meager existing water resources that have depleted the underground water level. It is estimated that a total of 12,000 local residents including women, children and men will derive direct benefits from the project thus improving their living standards through provision of better water supply and sanitation facilities and decreasing disease burden.
Under the scheme that was initiated in 1989, Japan has so far extended a sum of US $ 11,923,523 to 226 small-scale social sector development projects all over Pakistan. Organizations interested in availing Japan's "Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP)"support can contact GGP Unit, Economic and Development Section of the Embassy of Japan {Tel: 051-2279320 (ext.219 & 282), Fax 051-2825307} for further details.