KARACHI: The Consulate-General of Japan in Karachi recently organized an Official Development Assistance (ODA) Press Tour to spotlight Japan’s ongoing support for Pakistan’s development, particularly in the areas of education, healthcare, and human security.
Journalists from various media outlets took part in the tour, which aimed to increase public awareness of Japan’s development initiatives and their impact on local communities.
Accompanied by consulate officials, the media delegation visited two key project sites in Karachi that have benefited from Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)’s Technical Cooperation programs.
Japan has funded over 400 grassroots-level initiatives in Pakistan through the GGP program since its inception in 1989.
The first stop on the tour was the Disabled Welfare Association (DWA), located near Mazar-e-Quaid. Since 2003, DWA has provided vocational training to women with disabilities from marginalized communities. In 2025, Japan contributed new transport vehicles and training equipment through GGP to support the organization’s efforts. A formal handover ceremony was held at the site, attended by the Consul General of Japan, HATTORI Masaru.
The second visit took the delegation to the Women Skill Development Center in Maripur, run by the Women Development Foundation Pakistan (WDFP). The center operates under JICA’s Technical Cooperation Project known as Light-F, which focuses on improving the livelihoods and well-being of female home-based workers in Sindh.
Through this initiative, low-income women working in the informal sector receive skills training and toolkits designed to boost their economic opportunities and enhance living conditions.
During the tour, journalists were given the opportunity to witness project activities firsthand, interact with beneficiaries, and gain a deeper understanding of how Japan’s development assistance is contributing to positive change in Karachi and surrounding areas.
