ISLAMABAD, Oct 5 The Japanese government would provide a grant of Rs7.68 million for provision of safe drinking water to residents of Murree hills villages who are currently facing acute shortage of water.

An agreement in this regard was signed in Islamabad on Monday to formalize the issuance of the grant by the Japanese government. The Japanese Ambassador in Pakistan, Chihiro Atsumi and the Chief Executive Officer of an NGO, which has been assigned the task to construct the water supply scheme, signed the agreement.

The provision of financial assistance under “the Grant for Grassroots Human Security Projects” of Japan will enable the 'Society for Upgradation of Knowledge, Health and Infrastructure (Sukhi) to construct water supply system in villages of Bagla, Hokra Kori and Dhoke Barian where the shortage of water is caused by the lack of proper management of the water supply system in the area due to financial constraints.

The project would provide relief to women belonging to these localities as it takes about three hours to fetch water on a mountain path every day.

It is expected that the project would improve the living and sanitary conditions of about 200 households in the three villages of Murree hills, a press release of the Japanese Embassy stated.

Following signing the agreement, the Japanese ambassador stressed that water and sanitary sector is one of the priority areas in the Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA), and expressed his hope that the project will help improve the fundamental living standards of the people in the villages of Murree, thus contributing to further strengthening the friendly relations between Japan and Pakistan.