Government of Japan today agreed to extend financial assistance worth 2.892 billion yen to Pakistan for Economic and Social Development Programme” and “Project for Improvement of Airport Security”.

An agreement was signed between the Secretary of Economic Affairs Division, Pakistan Mr. Syed Ghazanfar Abbas Jillani and Charge d’Affaires ad interim Japan Embassy Mr. Takashi Harada here at the Japanese Embassy.

The grant for “the Economic and Social Development Programme” will be used to procure equipment for meteorological observation. It will enable the Pakistan Meteorological Department to improve the accuracy of weather forecasts and to disseminate the early warnings for climate disaster.

The second project, “the Project for Improvement of Airport Security (Phase 2)” is a follow-up of the grant aid signed in 2013. Through the second phase project Japan will provide the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) with security equipment for screening of check-in baggage, hand baggage and vehicles at Karachi, Faisalabad, Multan and the New Islamabad International Airports, while the phase one project provided security equipment for Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad airports.

Acting Japanese Ambassador Takashi Harada said, “We appreciate the tireless efforts of the Pakistan for socio-economic development and improvement of security situation.”

He further emphasized that the two grants from Japan would support the work of the Pakistan and would strengthen the existing bond of friendship between the two countries.

About the airport security project, he said it would be completed within two years from preparing tender documents to installation including local human resource development to run and maintain the equipment.