Ambassador of Japan Hiroshi Inomata and Economic Affairs Division (EAD) Secretary Saleem Sethi inked the two agreements on Thursday, said a press release.
“Project for Upgrading of Mechanical System for Sewerage and Drainage Services in Gujranwala” entails provision of disposal pumps and de-silting equipment to upgrade existing sewerage and drainage capacity in Gujranwala city. It will also enhance the number of connections to sewers, and consequently increase sewerage coverage rate. The project will help reduce risk of inundation caused by heavy rains.
Moreover, “The Project for Establishment of Specialised Medium Range Weather Forecasting Center and Strengthening of Weather Forecasting System”, will see the replacement of the existing meteorological radar in Islamabad with an upper-air observation system and a meteorological data communication system.
A specialised medium range weather forecasting centre will also be established under the project which will enable the Pakistan Meteorological Department to improve accuracy of weather forecasts and speedily disseminate the warnings.
Referring to the repetitive floods Pakistan has faced in recent years, Inomata noted that natural disasters have become one of the major obstacles for economic development in the country. He said Japan gives high priority to disaster management in its development assistance for Pakistan. “Both Japan and Pakistan are disaster-prone countries,” he said. “We will continue to work together to make Pakistan a disaster resilient country by making good use of experience and expertise Japan has gained from disasters in the past.”
Japan International Cooperation Agency Chief Representative Mitsuyoshi Kawasaki said the two projects will improve Pakistan’s disaster management capacity.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 14th, 2014.
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