The Government of Japan grants US$ 95,816 for Water Supply Project in District Rawalpindi, Punjab

Islamabad: The Government of Japan has decided to extend financial support of US$ 95,816 (approx. Rs 8.2 million) to the Sanj Welfare Society (SWS) for the provision of potable water supply system in Village Pharel, District Rawalpindi, Punjab.

The agreement for the project was signed between Mr. Hiroshi OE, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan and Mr. Muhammad Fayyaz, President of SWS on Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence in Islamabad.

The grant will be utilized for laying down 19km pipelines, construction of 4 storage tanks and 2 distribution tanks and payment to the skilled and unskilled labour. Through this project, water will be supplied to approximately 200 households (i.e., 2,000 individuals) at their door steps on a very nominal rate.

Therefore, it would save time and cost of women and children, who otherwise fetch water from a distance of around four kilometres.

At the signing ceremony, Ambassador OE stressed that improvement of water supply and sanitation is one of the priorities in Japan’s assistance policy towards Pakistan. He expressed his hope that this project would help the community, especially women and children, to utilize their time on productive activities such as on education and enhancing their income sources. Ambassador OE believes that such assistance by the Government and people of Japan will further cement the relationship and friendship that exist between Japan and Pakistan.

For more information, contact:
Muhammad Zubair
Administrative Officer (Public Relations)
Japan International Cooperation Agency (Pakistan)
Office, 4th Level, Serena Business Complex,
Ramna 5, Kahayaban-e-Suharwardi, G-5/1, Islamabad
Tel: +9251 9244500-07
Fax: +9251 9244508

Japan International Cooperation Agency agrees to fund United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund

Islamabad: A Grant Agreement on the provision of funds worth Two Hundred and Three million (203,000,000) Japanese Yen for polio eradication in Pakistan was executed between Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the procurement of oral polio vaccine and social mobilization during 2011-12.

Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, His Excellency Hiroshi Oe and Representative of UNICEF Pakistan, Mr. Dan Rohrmann signed the Exchange of Notes. Mr. Toshiya Sato, Senior Representative of JICA and Mr. Dan Rohrmann signed the Grant Agreement for the release of funds for the said purpose.

The Government of Japan has supported the Polio Eradication Initiative in Pakistan since 1996. Total grant assistance made so far by the Government of Japan comes up to approximately US$ 89.5 million, and has accounted for 26% of all oral polio vaccine procured so far.

This is a significant contribution towards reducing the number of polio cases in Pakistan. For the past 16 years, Japan’s support has been instrumental in ensuring that sufficient quantities of vaccine are in place and to ensure a sustained cold chain to protect their potency.

JICA has also been involved with UNICEF, along with other partners and continues to provide technical assistance to the Government of Pakistan to support polio eradication activities. Since the programme was launched in 1994, the number of cases has been reduced from more than 30,000 in 1994 down to 132 in 2011.

In another venture, on August 15, 2011, JICA signed a Japanese ODA Loan Agreement with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to provide a loan of up to 4,993 million Yen (approx. 65million USD) for assistance for the Polio Eradication Project.

The objective of the project is to optimize immunization of polio vaccines to children less than 5 years, by procuring vaccines and providing services necessary for polio immunization activities, thereby contributing to the eradication of polio in Pakistan.

For more information, contact:
Mr. Muhammad Zubair
Administrative Officer (Public Relations),
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) – Pakistan
Office, 4th Level, Serena Business Complex,
Ramna 5, Kahayaba-e-Suharwardi, G-5/1,
Islamabad, Pakistan.
Tel: +92-51-9244500-07
Fax: +92-51-9244508

Japan funds UNESCO for strengthening flood warning system in Pakistan

Islamabad: The Exchange of Notes (EN) and a Grant Agreement (GA) for “the Strategic Strengthening of Flood Warning and Management Capacity of Pakistan” were signed today between Government of Japan; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at Islamabad.

The grant amount of Japanese Yen 284 million will be utilized by UNESCO for following three interrelated pillars of the captioned project.

A) Strategic augmentation of flood forecasting and flood risk and hazard mapping capacity.

B) Knowledge platform for sharing transboundary databases and community flood management information.

C) Capacity development for flood forecasting and hazard mapping.

This project will enable the country’s capacity to deal floods and watershed management in a holistic manner, reduce the human and socio-economic impacts of flooding, and improve the social, economic, and ecological impacts of floods and safer human settlements near flood plains in partnership with international networks.

In a brief ceremony, H.E Hiroshi OE, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan and Mr. Takatoshi Nishikata, Chief Representative of JICA Pakistan signed and exchanged “EN” and “GA” respectively with Dr. Kozue Kay Nagata, Director/Representative of the UNESCO in Pakistan.

For more information, contact:
Mr. Muhammad Zubair
Administrative Officer (Public Relations),
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) – Pakistan
Office, 4th Level, Serena Business Complex,
Ramna 5, Khayaban-e-Suharwardi, G-5/1,
Islamabad, Pakistan.
Tel: +92-51-9244500-07
Fax:+92-51-9244508