Germany, Japan extend grant assistance to Pakistan

Germany to provide assistance worth €7.5 million under project 'Social Health Protection, Phase-III'

ISLAMABAD:

The government of Germany has extended grant assistance worth €7.5 million to Pakistan under its project “Social Health Protection, Phase-III” to help improve the health status of population.

Out of the total assistance, €1.785 million have been provided for Gilgit-Baltistan and €5.72 million grant for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, according to a press statement issued by the Economic Affairs Division (EAD).

The financial agreement was signed by Secretary EAD Dr Kazim Niaz and Country Director German Development Bank (KfW) Sebastian Jacobi in Islamabad.

According to the statement, the overall goal of this programme is to improve the health status of the population, especially the poor by providing a safety net, and reducing poverty through the reduction of out-of-pocket payments for health expenditures.

Read more: 1 in 9 children in Pakistan's flood-hit areas suffering from severe malnutrition: UNICEF

It is likely to improve access to the poorest population in the programme region through the reduction of financial barriers and the strengthening of qualified service providers. At the same time, the project would contribute to identifying solutions for sustainable health system financing.

Speaking on the occasion, the EAD secretary appreciated the government and people of Germany for their support with the assurance of extending all necessary facilitation for more meaningful cooperation between the two sides in future.

Meanwhile, Chairman Atom Co. Ltd, Hokkaido Prefecture, Masato Kimura visited Pakistan Embassy along with a delegation to donate Japanese Yen (JPY) 2.3 million for the flood affectees in Pakistan.

Charge d’ Affaires, Ismat Hassan Sial thanked the chairman for the generous donation.

Further ways of enhancing mutual relations between Pakistan and the City of Biratori, Hokkaido, particularly in the field of import of manpower from Pakistan were also discussed, a press release issued by Pakistan Embassy in Tokyo said.