ISLAMABAD: Japan has extended grant aid of 2.6 billion Japanese Yen to Pakistan for a project aimed at strengthening flood protection and improving river dikes along the Indus River in Sindh Province.
The grant agreement was formalized in Islamabad on September 7 during a signing ceremony attended by Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan AKAMATSU Shuichi and Muhammad Humair Karim, Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The Notes were signed and exchanged by the two officials.
Subsequently, the Grant Agreement was signed and exchanged by SUGAWARA Takayuki, Senior Representative of the JICA Pakistan Office, and Sabina Qureshi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Strengthening Flood Defences in Larkana
The project aims to reduce the risk of dike breaches and associated economic losses by reinforcing vulnerable sections of the river embankment in the Larkana region of Sindh.
The planned interventions include riverbank erosion protection works and reinforcement of existing dikes. A stronger concrete-based embankment construction method will be adopted, an approach described as relatively uncommon in Pakistan.
According to the project details, the enhanced design is expected to reduce the risk of embankment failures and strengthen flood resilience in the targeted areas.
The Larkana region is particularly vulnerable to large-scale flooding due to its location within the Indus River basin. The project is expected to reduce flood risks for approximately 790,000 residents, while helping to limit inundation and reduce potential flood-related economic losses.
The improved flood protection infrastructure will also help safeguard communities, agricultural land and critical infrastructure from future flood disasters.
Japan Highlights Preventive Disaster Risk Reduction
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador AKAMATSU Shuichi recalled Pakistan’s devastating 2022 floods and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting the country’s recovery and reconstruction.
He emphasized Japan’s focus on proactive disaster prevention, noting that measures taken before disasters occur can play a crucial role in protecting lives, livelihoods and economic assets.
The ambassador said the project aligns with Pakistan’s planning and policy efforts to build a more resilient society and expressed hope that the strengthened infrastructure would provide greater security to communities facing future flood risks.
JICA Pakistan Senior Representative SUGAWARA Takayuki said the project would rehabilitate the dike using concrete reinforcement. While the approach requires higher initial investment than conventional methods, he said it is expected to deliver more sustainable and long-lasting benefits.
He stressed that the initiative goes beyond infrastructure development, describing it as an effort to protect lives, safeguard livelihoods and strengthen the resilience of Sindh Province for future generations.
Building Climate Resilience Along the Indus
With flooding becoming an increasingly serious disaster risk amid a changing climate, the project represents a shift towards proactive flood-risk management and resilient infrastructure.
By strengthening flood protection along a vulnerable section of the Indus River basin, the project is expected to reduce future disaster damage and economic losses while supporting the long-term protection of communities, agriculture and infrastructure.
The initiative also highlights the importance of international cooperation, engineering solutions and preventive investment in helping flood-prone regions adapt to increasingly severe natural hazards.
