Pakistan and Japan Sign $16.4 Million Agreement to Upgrade Flood Defenses Along the Indus River

Pakistan and Japan signed a $16.4 million (2.58 billion Yen) grant agreement to reinforce flood defenses along the Indus River in Sindh. Focused on upgrading the Old Abad Bund in Larkana, the project aims to protect vulnerable communities, farmlands, and infrastructure from future monsoon floods through advanced engineering supported by JICA.

PAKISTAN NEWS

Aagahi Hub

9/8/20262 min read

Official signing ceremony of the $16.4 million flood protection agreement between representatives of
Official signing ceremony of the $16.4 million flood protection agreement between representatives of

In a major step toward protecting vulnerable communities from climate disasters, Pakistan and Japan have officially signed a grant agreement worth 2.58 billion Japanese Yen (approximately $16.4 million). The development fund will directly support the construction, repair, and reinforcement of crucial flood protection infrastructure along the Indus River in Sindh province.

The primary focus of this disaster management initiative is to strengthen the historic Old Abad Bund, a massive protective embankment situated near the Larkana region on the right bank of the Indus River.

Official Representatives and Key Signatories

The bilateral agreement was formally concluded during a high-profile ceremony held in Islamabad:

  • Ms. Sabina Qureshi (Additional Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs) and Mr. Sugawara Takayuki (Senior Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency - JICA) signed the Grant Agreement.

  • Muhammad Humair Karim Kidwai (Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs) expressed deep gratitude to the people and government of Japan for their continuous financial support and technical expertise.

  • AKAMATSU Shuichi (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Pakistan) reaffirmed Tokyo's long-term commitment to working alongside Islamabad to strengthen disaster preparedness and bilateral relations.

Why the Old Abad Bund Project Matters

The right bank of the Indus River in northern Sindh has historically been one of Pakistan’s most flood-prone regions. During catastrophic monsoon events—such as the devastating floods of 2010 and 2022—the overflow of the river damaged millions of acres of farmland, displaced rural families, and washed away basic infrastructure.

By reinforcing the Old Abad Bund, this project aims to achieve several vital outcomes:

  1. Protecting Local Communities: Securing towns, villages, and agricultural land near Larkana against sudden river surges during monsoon seasons.

  2. Japanese Engineering Standards: Utilizing advanced civil engineering techniques backed by JICA to construct durable dikes and embankments capable of withstanding extreme water pressures.

  3. Socio-Economic Stability: Preventing economic losses for rural farmers by protecting crops, livestock, and homes from destruction.

Long-Standing Japan-Pakistan Partnership in Disaster Management

Japan’s commitment through JICA represents more than just financial aid. Over the past several decades, Japan has consistently assisted Pakistan with technical know-how in disaster risk reduction, weather forecasting radar systems, and post-flood reconstruction.

Senior JICA representative Sugawara Takayuki commended both the Sindh provincial government and the federal government for pushing the project forward to execution. He emphasized that JICA remains committed to building resilient infrastructure across Pakistan’s most vulnerable regions.

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