ISLAMABAD, June 29: The Japanese government has decided to provide a grant of Rs36.2 million for the construction of a water supply system and repair of water pipelines and tanks in Sihanna village near Murree.

The grant will be utilised to supply safe drinking water to the residents of the area who are facing water shortage, said the Japanese embassy in a press release here.

Currently, the residents of the area have to spend several hours to fetch water from far-flung areas. The project will help ease the hard labour of women and girls in bringing water from long distances. It is expected that around 4,400 residents will benefit from the project.

The project will be implemented by Japan Mine Action Service (JMAS). During the signing of the project between Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Oe and JMAS representative Fumitoshi Takakura, the former expressed the hope that the project would improve the living standards of the people and contribute to further strengthening the existing friendly relations between the two countries. — Our Reporter