Japan to give $5.58m more for weather radar project

Move comes on Pakistan’s request for additional amount

ISLAMABAD:

The government of Japan has decided to increase the amount of a grant for ‘The Project for Installation of Weather Surveillance Radar in Multan’ from $14.99 million to $20.57 million.

The original notes to this effect were signed and exchanged between the two governments on August 31, 2018.

On the request of the government of Pakistan, this time, the government of Japan decided to provide an additional amount of $5.58 million for the project.

The notes to this effect for provision of the additional amount signed and exchanged between Ito Takeshi, Charge d’ Affaires ad interim of Japan to Pakistan and Dr Kazim Niaz, the secretary of Ministry of Economic Affairs, are prone to natural disasters such as floods and landslides caused by heavy torrential rains, tropical cyclones and earthquakes.

This results in heavy damages, particularly, due to floods triggered by monsoon rains.

The Japanese government has been assisting Pakistan proactively, in the enhancement of weather surveillance capacity since the 1980s in order to mitigate the damage by flood.

Including the additional amount pledged on Monday, the total amount of Japanese assistance for weather surveillance radars in Pakistan has reached around $82.9 million. So far Japan has supported the installation of six weather radars in Islamabad, Karachi, Dera Ismail Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Multan (ongoing) and Sukkur (ongoing) and will cover 80% of the country and benefit 90% of the whole population.

The weather radar network will surely contribute to further strengthening the weather forecasting capability in Pakistan and help Pakistan become more resilient to future natural disasters.

At the signing ceremony, Ito stated, “This project will enhance PMD’s capabilities, it will be able to disseminate information and deliver more accurate weather forecast, it will be able to send out warnings to protect life and properties of the people in Pakistan. The whole population of the country will be benefitted.”