ISLAMABAD: Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan Takashi Kurai inaugurated a project for installation of six water filtration plants in District Okara which was completed with the financial support of $82,282 provided. The inauguration ceremony was attended by members of NGO and community members from the vicinity who are benefiting from the facilities. The installation of these water filtration plants was made possible with the financial support from the Embassy of Japan under its Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP) program. At the inauguration ceremony, Kurai emphasised the urgent need of improving access to safe drinking water, particularly in rural areas of the country. He also expressed his sincere hope – representing the people of Japan – adding that this project will contribute to the improvement of basic conditions of life, alleviation of poverty and further to the sustainable growth of local economy as a whole. Before this initiative, the target population of Tehsil Depalpur was suffering from a shortage of clean water, especially during the summer season. This had an adverse effect on the community, particularly in terms of health as evident by a high prevalence of waterborne diseases in the area. With the provision of safe drinking water through installation of water filtration plants, the project is now benefiting 6,755 households in the six villages of Tehsil Depalpur in District Okara. The GGP program is an initiative of the Japanese government with the belief that in consideration of the enormity of the challenges being faced by the world today, development assistance should not only be limited to governments, but should also be channelled to the grassroots level through civil society organisations. Since it’s commencement in 1989, the Embassy of Japan under the GGP umbrella has supported more than 350 projects, with a contribution of more than ¥ 2.4 billion.