AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Islamabad, The Government of Japan has pledged an additional $5.5 million to bolster Pakistan’s capacity to predict and manage natural disasters through the enhancement of its weather surveillance systems. This grant is earmarked for the installation of a new weather surveillance radar in Sukkur City, supplementing the original project unveiled in January 2021, which was valued at approximately $13.12 million.
According to Embassy of Japan in Pakistan, the agreement for the additional funding was formalized in a ceremony held on April 4, 2024, involving H.E. Mr. WADA Mitsuhiro, the Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan, and senior officials from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The augmentation of the project budget comes in response to a request from the Pakistani government, citing an escalation in market prices which affected the original cost estimates.
Pakistan, prone to a wide array of natural disasters including floods, landslides, and cyclones, incurs significant damages annually, particularly during the monsoon season. This initiative is part of a broader effort by Japan and JICA to strengthen Pakistan’s disaster risk management capabilities, which includes training for the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s staff to enhance their skills in meteorological observation, forecasting, and information dissemination.
With Japan’s support extending to the weather radar systems in Islamabad, Karachi, and Multan, the addition of the Sukkur radar is set to ensure nearly 90% coverage of Pakistan’s territory. Ambassador WADA emphasized the critical role of these systems in providing accurate weather forecasts, thereby enabling timely preparations for adverse weather events and mitigating the potential impacts on both lives and livelihoods.
Scheduled for completion in 2026, the weather radar project aligns with Pakistan’s expressed commitment to flood recovery and disaster preparedness, as outlined at the Geneva conference the previous year. The collaborative effort between Japan and JICA with the Pakistani government underscores a continued partnership aimed at enhancing the country’s resilience against the challenges posed by natural disasters.