TOBA TEK SINGH: Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) of Faisalabad and Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) have completed a five-million gallons per day capacity water treatment plant project.
A ceremony was held on Wednesday at Jhal Khanuana for the handing over of the project.
Japanese Ambassador Akamatsu Shuichi along with Wasa officers attended the ceremony.
The Japanese ambassador said Faisalabad is the third largest city of Pakistan, but its current water supply is insufficient for the growing population.
To address this issue, Jica provided technical assistance from 2016 to 2019 and prepared a master plan for water, sewage and drainage up to 2038. This project was included as a priority project in the master plan.
He added that a grant of more than Rs7 billion was used to upgrade the old Jhal Khanuana water treatment plant and improve the water pipeline and transmission system, which tripled the water supply. This has not only improved water facilities but also improved the health and living standards of the citizens. The project will also help achieve SDG Goal 6: “Clean water and sanitation for all”.
He said, “We hope that all the facilities installed with Japan’s assistance will be used in a sustainable and effective manner and the people will benefit from the expertise gained from this project.”
Jica representative in Pakistan Naoaki Miyata said, “We want this project to provide safe water to as many citizens as possible and improve the environment of the residents of Faisalabad.”
He added that through this grant aid project and ongoing technical cooperation, the Government of Japan and JICA will continue efforts to provide safe water in Pakistan.
He said Pakistan-Japan relations have always been excellent, and Japan has always worked to improve Pakistan’s infrastructure and the quality of life of its citizens.
Wasa DMD Engineering Saqib Raza said they are grateful to Japan and Jica for completing this mega and state-of-the-art project, which has started a new era between Pakistan and Japan. He said the old water tanks of the 19th century had been restored using modern technology, enabling clean water to reach citizens at their doorsteps.
He said much was learned from Japanese engineers during the project, and its completion would further improve the water supply system.
Project Director Engineer Ali Ahmed said Jica and Wasa have a relationship of over 20 years, and this project’s completion marks a new chapter in their friendship. He said the project would increase the city’s water supply capacity, delivering drinking water to more than 200,000 people.
COP ARRESTED: Gulberg police in Faisalabad on Wednesday arrested Constable Nasir Masih for threatening his wife, Lady Constable Stephanie Masih, with dire consequences and using abusive language.
Complainant Sub-Inspector Muhammad Iqbal Fareed stated in the FIR registered under Section 506 of the PPC and 155-C of the Police Order, that the suspect had been threatening his wife Stephanie and the threats were made during an investigation into a complaint filed by Stephanie against him.
Gang-raped: Two youths allegedly gang-raped a woman in Gojra Chak 361-JB on Wednesday.
The alleged rape survivor of Chak 413-JB informed Gojra Saddar police that she was called by one of the suspects in his village seeking her help to find a match for him. He took her to his house where he and his one identified accomplice gang raped her.
Police were conducting raids to arrest them.
FIRE: Four acres of wheat crop of Khadim Gujjar were gutted in Gojra Chak 94-JB on Wednesday.
Reports said the cause of the fire could not be ascertained. Rescue 1122 firefighters extinguished the fire after the crop had been gutted.
CLASH: A man was killed and another critically injured when their opponents opened indiscriminate fire on them near Khanuana Adda, Faisalabad, on Wednesday.
The two were returning to their village Chak 85 JB, Dijkot, after appearing in a court case in Faisalabad.
Police said deceased Asif Ghaffar Jat and wounded Rana Ghulam Abbas were attacked by Umair Riaz Sahi and Muhammad Talha with whom they were involved in a legal dispute.
Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2025