ISLAMABAD, OCT 18 (DNA) – Balochistan Irrigation Department has received two Truck-Mounted Water Well Drilling Rigs with the procurement assistance from the Government of Japan.

The project under Economic Social Development Programme in the Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA), has aimed to improve the living standard of the people of Balochistan through the procurement of the water well drilling rigs that cost is 231,250,000 Japanese Yen (approximately 2.1 million US dollars).

The ceremony was held at the Balochistan Canal Irrigation Division office in Hub to mark the handing over of the equipment.

It was attended by Mr. Toshikazu Isomura, the Consul General of Japan in Karachi, Mr. Muhammad Saleem Awan, Secretary Government of Balochistan, Irrigation Department.

The Balochistan provincial government has constantly faced challenges to provide sufficient volume of water to its citizens due to the dry and arid climate of the area.

By procuring Truck-mounted Water Well Drilling Rigs for the Irrigation department of Balochistan, the department will not only be able to revitalize hundreds of unusable existing wells but would also be able to excavate new wells in the southern area, where they have huge potential groundwater layer.

The water well drilling rigs are the latest model which is made by the prominent Japanese manufacturer. The equipment will surely improve the people’s standard of living by providing sufficient water in the arid area.

Saleem Awan, the secretary of Balochistan Irrigation Department, said that “Balochistan Province is going through hard times in terms of water shortage, therefore the grant aid from Japan would pave the way for exploring new avenues of water through drilling new wells in the remote areas of Balochistan, this aid would directly provide relief to the water stressed regions in Balochistan”

Mr. Isomura, Counsul General of Japan in Karachi acknowledged the continuous efforts of the Balochistan provincial government to implement various project for the improvement of the living standard of its people.

“It is a great pleasure for me to be here today and I am pleased to share with you that the Government of Japan would continue to support the Government of Pakistan in its efforts to improve the socio-economic situation of the country.

I hope and wish that this assistance would further strengthen the existing good relation between the two countries..”

Japan has provided continuous support for the development of groundwater resource with procurement of more than 60 water well drilling rigs, in total 12 projects in Pakistan.

And in those projects, 22 drilling rigs were delivered to Balochistan since 1980th. In addition to that, Japan has implemented various projects in Balochistan in a recent decade such as “Project on In Country training and Provision of Equipment for Balochistan University of Information Technology Engineering and Management Sciences” in the form of technical assistance.=DNA

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