France Deepens Development Cooperation with Pakistan through €12 Million Grant to Strengthen Urban Water Services
Islamabad – In a strong testament to the growing partnership between France and Pakistan, the Government of Pakistan and the French Development Agency (AFD) signed a landmark grant agreement worth €12 million to improve water and sanitation services in Punjab’s urban centers. The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Economic Affairs by Mr. Kazim Niaz, Secretary of Economic Affairs, alongside H.E. Mr. Nicolas Galey, Ambassador of France to Pakistan, and Mr. Vincent Thevenot, AFD Director in Pakistan.
This important initiative is financed by a grant from the European Union and will be administered by AFD, underscoring France’s active role in supporting Pakistan’s sustainable urban development. Representatives of the European Union and the Government of Punjab also participated in the signing ceremony, highlighting the collaborative and multilateral nature of the project.
The ambitious project aims to transform the operational efficiency and service delivery of the Water and Sanitation Agencies (WASA) in Lahore and Faisalabad. It targets three strategic levels:
- At the provincial level, it will support the Housing, Urban Development & Public Health Engineering Department (HUD&PHED) in developing a regulatory framework and strengthening governance mechanisms.
- At the utility level, it will introduce cutting-edge technologies, business process reforms, and performance-enhancing systems to ensure reliable and sustainable water and sanitation services.
- Operationally, the project includes the procurement of essential equipment and digitization tools to enable transparent, data-driven decision-making.
This agreement marks another milestone in France’s ongoing commitment to support inclusive and sustainable development in Pakistan. It reflects shared priorities in improving public service delivery, strengthening institutions, and addressing climate resilience and urban challenges.
Ambassador Galey reaffirmed France’s dedication to working alongside Pakistan to deliver impactful, community-centered development outcomes. The partnership with AFD and the EU stands as a model of effective international cooperation for sustainable urban infrastructure and improved quality of life.
BY: The Times Union
