Japan has extended JPY 500 million i.e. approximately USD 4.7 million funding to Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) to improve the capital’s sanitary environment by obtaining garbage disposal vehicles from Japan.
The agreement was signed and exchanged with the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, H.E. MATSUDA Kuninori, and Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Dr. Noor Ahmad, in Islamabad.
MCI is Islamabad Capital Territory’s municipal authority which is responsible for numerous functions including solid waste control, community infrastructure, and social security.
Because of the increasing population and constant urbanization, Islamabad produces 550-600 tons of wastes per day which includes 60% of which is household garbage. MCI also faces problems in collecting garbage due to shortage and aging of garbage disposal vehicles.
Special vehicles including the Skip Lifting Vehicle, Garbage Compactor, and the Sewer Jet Sucking machine will be given to MCI under the program.
The grant assistance will support the improvement of the sanitary environment and embellishment of Islamabad. It is also expected that the solid waste management index will be improved. It is one of the five indexes of the “Clean Green Pakistan”, supported by the Imran Khan government.
It is essential to keep the living environment clean for people to be free from diseases. Ambassador MATSUDA stated that Japanese schoolchildren clean their classrooms every day by themselves. Also, every family separates recyclable waste from the rest of the garbage and the local authorities collect garbage at a fixed time and day.
The collective efforts of people and government help to keep the environment clean, MATSUDA added. He believes that personal hygiene including washing hands and improving public health helps in the prevention of infectious diseases.
Japan has prioritized the sectors of health, water & sanitation, disaster prevention, and education and will continue to help Pakistan improve people’s livelihood.