Japan has extended a grant aid of 2.6 billion Japanese Yen to Pakistan for the Project for Flood Protection and Dike Improvement on the Indus River in Sindh province.
Notes to this effect were signed and exchanged between Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan AKAMATSU Shuichi and Secretary Ministry of Economic Affairs Muhammad Humair Karim at a ceremony held here on Monday.
Subsequently, the Grant Agreement for the project was also signed and exchanged between Senior Representative of the JICA Pakistan Office SUGAWARA Takayuki and Additional Secretary Ministry of Economic Affairs Sabina Qureshi.
The project aims to reduce the risk of dike breaches and associated economic losses through reinforcement of dikes in the targeted section of the Larkana region of Sindh.
Under the project, riverbank erosion protection works and dike reinforcement will be carried out using a stronger concrete-based embankment construction method, which remains relatively uncommon in Pakistan.
The enhanced design is expected to further mitigate the risk of embankment breaches and improve flood resilience in the targeted area.
Pakistan remains highly vulnerable to flooding, with the Larkana region among the areas facing significant risks of large-scale flood damage. The project is expected to reduce flood risks for approximately 790,000 residents and help minimize inundation areas and flood-related economic losses.
It will also contribute to protecting local communities, agricultural land and infrastructure from future flood disasters.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador AKAMATSU Shuichi said Pakistan had experienced the most devastating flood in its history in 2022, and Japan remained committed to supporting the country’s recovery and reconstruction.
He said Japan placed strong emphasis on proactive disaster prevention measures based on its experience and expertise, adding that the project aimed to minimize the risk of dike breaches and protect the region from devastating flood damage.
The ambassador said the project was aligned with Pakistan’s planning and policy efforts and would contribute to building a resilient society capable of mitigating future disasters.
He expressed hope that the project would provide reassurance to the people of Pakistan as a reliable safeguard against future floods.
JICA Pakistan Office Senior Representative SUGAWARA Takayuki said the project would rehabilitate the dike through concrete reinforcement.
He said although the approach was relatively rare in Pakistan and required higher initial investment costs, it was expected to deliver more sustainable and long-lasting development impacts.
“This project is not just about building stronger dikes. It is about protecting lives, safeguarding livelihoods, and building a more resilient Sindh Province for future generations,” he said.
The project will strengthen flood protection in the flood-prone Indus River basin and contribute to reducing future flood damage and associated economic losses.
It is also expected to support sustainable flood risk management and contribute to building a more disaster-resilient society.
