Islamabad (GNP): Dr. Tanaka Akihiko, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will visit Pakistan from August 1 to 5 — marking both his first official trip to the country and the first visit by a JICA president since 2020. During the visit, Dr. Tanaka is expected to tour JICA-supported project sites and meet with Pakistan’s prime minister, the Chief Minister of Punjab, and senior government officials.
As the agency responsible for implementing Japan’s Official Development Assistance program, JICA has supported Pakistan’s development efforts for more than 70 years, contributing to sectors including education, health, disaster management, gender equality, governance, private sector growth, and infrastructure such as roads and electricity networks.
Focus on Faisalabad Water Supply Project
A key part of the visit will be Dr. Tanaka’s tour of project sites under the Faisalabad Water Supply Improvement Project, one of Japan’s major urban infrastructure initiatives in Pakistan. Faisalabad, the country’s third-largest city, has long struggled to meet growing demand for safe drinking water amid rapid population growth and urban expansion.
To address this, JICA supported development of the Faisalabad Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Master Plan between 2016 and 2019, outlining a roadmap for sustainable water services through 2038. Building on that plan, JICA provided grant funding of JPY 4.094 billion for a project aimed at upgrading water treatment and distribution infrastructure in the city.
As part of this initiative, the Old Jhal Khanuana Water Treatment Plant was constructed with a treatment capacity of 5 million gallons per day, along with improvements to related transmission and distribution systems. Since becoming operational in April 2025, the facility has significantly improved access to safe water in Faisalabad.
Visit Highlights
During his time in Faisalabad, Dr. Tanaka will visit the Old JK Water Treatment Plant, which may be considered for future expansion under a potential Japanese ODA loan. He will also observe transmission and distribution facilities that have benefited from digital transformation initiatives, as well as households that have gained improved access to water services as a result of the project.
Through these visits, JICA aims to highlight the tangible impact of its work in Pakistan’s water sector and the direct benefits delivered to local communities. Officials note that Faisalabad’s experience could serve as a model for similar water infrastructure improvements in other Pakistani cities going forward.
Also read: Pakistan’s Youth are Shaheens, Not Cockroaches, Ahsan Iqbal
JICA said it remains committed to working closely with the Government of Pakistan and relevant stakeholders — including through continued use of Japanese ODA loans — to improve quality of life for Pakistani citizens and strengthen the broader relationship between Japan and Pakistan.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
