The Consulate-General of Japan in Karachi held an Official Development Assistance (ODA) Press Tour to highlight Japan’s contributions to Pakistan’s development across key sectors including education, healthcare, and human security.

Journalists from various media outlets participated in the tour, which aimed to raise public awareness of Japan’s assistance initiatives.

Accompanied by consulate staff, the delegation visited two project sites in Karachi that have received support through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)’s Technical Cooperation programs.

Since 1989, Japan has funded over 400 grassroots projects in Pakistan under the GGP framework.

The first stop was the Disabled Welfare Association (DWA) near Mazar-e-Quaid. Since 2003, DWA has been providing vocational training to women with disabilities from underprivileged communities.

In 2025, Japan supplied new transport vehicles and training equipment through the GGP to further empower low-income women with disabilities. A handover ceremony was also held on-site, attended by Consul General of Japan HATTORI Masaru.

The tour then moved to the Women Skill Development Center operated by the Women Development Foundation Pakistan (WDFP) in Maripur. This center is part of JICA’s Technical Cooperation Project for improving livelihoods and well-being of female home-based workers in Sindh (Light-F).

The project supports low-income women working in the informal sector by providing training and toolkits to enhance their economic prospects and improve welfare conditions.

At each location, journalists observed project activities firsthand and engaged with beneficiaries, gaining deeper insights into how Japan’s development assistance is positively transforming lives in Karachi and beyond.