JICA Signs Deal to Boost Water Supply Management in Abbottabad
JICA and Pakistan sign agreement to strengthen WSSC-A's water utility management in Abbottabad City, improving supply, tariffs, and water quality systems.
JICA Signs Agreement with Pakistan to Strengthen Water Utility Management in Abbottabad City
Islamabad, July 10, 2026 — The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a Record of Discussions (R/D) with the Government of Pakistan in Islamabad, establishing the framework for a new technical cooperation project aimed at improving water supply management capacity in Abbottabad City, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The agreement marks a significant step toward addressing the city’s chronic water supply challenges through Japanese technical expertise and institutional support.
Background
Abbottabad City, located in the northern part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, has long struggled to provide consistent water supply to its residents. Currently, water is supplied for only about three hours on average every other day, a shortfall driven by rapid population growth, aging infrastructure, and the compounding effects of climate change. The city’s water utility, Water and Sanitation Services Company, Abbottabad (WSSC-A), faces significant operational and financial constraints, including limited capacity for maintaining water supply facilities, low flat-rate tariffs that fail to generate adequate revenue, and heavy dependence on government subsidies to remain functional.
JICA has a long history of supporting public health and water supply expansion efforts internationally, and this project draws on that accumulated experience to address Abbottabad’s specific challenges. The initiative is aligned with Japan’s broader Kumamoto Initiative for Water, a strategy announced by former Prime Minister Kishida Fumio at the 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit in April 2022, which aims to tackle regional water challenges including floods, droughts, pollution, and inadequate sanitation across the Asia-Pacific region.
Signing Ceremony and Key Officials
The Record of Discussions was signed between Senior Joint Secretary Miran Mohiyuddin Soomro of Pakistan’s Economic Affairs Division (EAD) and Chief Representative Shinozaki Yusuke of the JICA Pakistan Office. The signing took place in the presence of EAD Secretary Muhammad Humair Karim, underscoring the significance both governments place on the partnership.
Project Objectives and Scope
The technical cooperation project, formally titled “The Project for Improvement of Management Capacity of Water Supply Services in the City of Abbottabad,” is designed to strengthen WSSC-A’s overall capacity to manage water supply operations sustainably. Key areas of focus include:
- Strengthening the implementation and monitoring of WSSC-A’s business plan
- Improving water distribution management capacity
- Strengthening water quality management systems
- Supporting the introduction and institutionalization of a metered tariff system
By addressing these areas, the project aims to build long-term financial and operational sustainability for water services in Abbottabad, reducing reliance on subsidies while improving service delivery to residents.
Project Outline
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Country/Target Area | Islamic Republic of Pakistan (WSSC-A service area, Abbottabad District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) |
| Project Objective | Strengthen WSSC-A’s water supply service management capacity |
| Implementation Period | 48 months (planned) |
| Implementing Agency | Water and Sanitation Services Company, Abbottabad (WSSC-A) |
| SDG Contribution | Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), Goal 13 (Climate Action) |
Broader Significance
The project is positioned under JICA’s Global Agenda for “Sustainable Water Resources Management and Water Supply” and is expected to contribute to local climate resilience through improved climate change adaptation, more efficient water use, and better conservation of water-source environments. As Pakistan continues to grapple with water scarcity and climate-related pressures across multiple provinces, initiatives like this one offer a model for how targeted technical cooperation can address utility-level governance challenges.
Conclusion
The signing of this Record of Discussions represents a concrete step toward resolving Abbottabad’s persistent water supply challenges through structured institutional reform and capacity building. Over the planned 48-month implementation period, the collaboration between JICA and WSSC-A is expected to yield measurable improvements in water distribution, quality management, and financial sustainability — offering residents of Abbottabad the prospect of more reliable water access while contributing to Pakistan’s broader climate resilience and sustainable development goals.
