PESHAWAR: A Japanese-funded project worth more than Rs2.5 billion aimed at improving maternal and child healthcare facilities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is facing the risk of cancellation due to administrative delays.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department to expedite pending formalities with the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and open the account required to launch the project.
In a letter addressed to the KP health secretary, JICA said completion of the necessary arrangements between the Health Department and NBP was essential for the project to begin.
According to the letter, however, payment of the banking commission to NBP by the Health Department remains pending, preventing the completion of the required banking process.
The project has already faced considerable delays since the aid agreement was signed in December 2024, with administrative procedures and procedural issues slowing down its implementation.
JICA has now asked the Health Department to complete the payment process for the banking commission at the earliest to prevent the project from being cancelled and to ensure its smooth implementation.
The assistance from Japan is meant to improve the health care facilities of mothers and children in the province, which makes it essential that the procedure be completed on time to make progress in the project.
It is important that the matter should be sorted out at the earliest so that the grant may be put to use for its actual purpose instead of risking it on account of procedural delays.
