Japan’s cumulative assistance at 976b yen

Projects under way in health, education, agriculture, energy and transport sectors

TOKYO: Japan’s cumulative Official Development Assistance (ODA) disbursement to Pakistan for different projects stood at 975.99 billion yen under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) with an objective to build a stable and sustainable society through economic growth.

While briefing about the Japanese assistance to Pakistan at Jica headquarters, Planning Division South Asian Department Deputy Director South Asia Division 2 (Pakistan) Ehara Keiji said that JICA had arranged a two-week training programme for media representatives from 16 different countries including Pakistan on disaster management and utilising Japanese experience in building disaster-resilient societies in developing nations.

“Through Jica, the government of Japan has initiated a number of development projects with focus on expanding and improving power supply, transmission lines, infrastructure, along with ensuring human security and balanced development for stability in the region near Afghanistan (Fata and Balochistan),” he said.

Keiji said that in 2014, five billion yen were disbursed. Speaking about Jica’s ongoing projects, he said a number of projects have been launched in health, education, agriculture, energy, transport, water, disaster risk management, sanitation and industrial sectors.

Projects in Punjab include upgrading the mechanical system for sewerage and drainage service, a detailed design for energy savings and water supply and improvement of traffic management.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the focus would be on strengthening the routine immunisation, rural road rehabilitation, rehabilitation of Pakistan Medium Wave Radio Broadcasting Network and capacity development of agriculture extension service.

For Balochistan, the projects include in-country training and provision of equipment for Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, east-west road improvement, the Indus Highway construction (third phase) and the Dadu-Khuzdar transmission system.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2015.

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