Japan Approves $18.5 Million Grant to Boost Flood Management in Pakistan’s Indus Basin

The Japanese government has approved a grant of $18.5 million to support flood management initiatives along the Indus River, focusing on constructing embankments in Haripur and installing rain meters at 45 sites across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. This funding, provided through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), aims to improve flood forecasting and enhance protection for vulnerable communities.

The initiative follows the devastating 2022 floods in Pakistan, which affected 33 million people, claimed 1,700 lives, and incurred losses of $30 billion. The new project, titled “Flood Management Enhancement in the Indus Basin,” will improve flood control functions and provide vital data for disaster risk reduction. The embankments and telemetry systems will protect local populations and infrastructure from future flooding.

In Islamabad, Economic Affairs Secretary Dr. Kazim Niaz and Japanese Ambassador Wada Mitsuhiro signed the agreement. Ambassador Wada expressed hope that the project would reassure Pakistanis facing future flood risks. “Japan remains committed to providing assistance that will directly benefit vulnerable people of Pakistan,” he stated.

This project is part of a broader, Rs200 billion Flood Protection Program, supported by Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments and international partners, which aims to bolster the country’s flood resilience.