The Government of Japan extended grant assistance to the Government of Pakistan in the form of 1 billion Japanese Yen (PKR 1.54 billion) for health and COVID-19 assistance.
Grant assistance is provided for the procurement of various medical supplies, MRI system, oxygen generator and cylinder, automatic external defibrillator, ECG, ultra-low temperature freezer, Personal Safety Equipment, Wheel Chairs, and Stretchers under the Economic and Social Development Program.
Noor Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and H.E. Matsuda Kuninori, Ambassador of Japan today 15 December 2020, on behalf of their respective Governments, signed the Exchange Notes, the Record of Discussions and the Accepted Minutes on Procedural Information. The Secretary of the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) spoke on the occasion, saying that Pakistan values bilateral and friendly ties with Japan and that the two countries share similar views on most regional and international economic issues.
Japanese economic assistance has and will continue to play a critical role in Pakistan’s socio-economic uplift. Japan has played a major role in the eradication of polio in Pakistan, and Pakistan has been able to significantly monitor the poliovirus in the Country due to its consistent support. Japan continues to focus on complete eradication until there are records of zero polio patients.
He also appreciated Japan’s support to establish a 3.62 billion Japanese Yen Intensive Care Unit and Maternal and Child Health Facility at PIMS and the potential extension of similar grant assistance to Hyderabad (Sindh).
Recent Non-Grant Project Assistance to Islamabad Metropolitan City was also commendable for management, trash transportation, solid waste as it would not only improve the environment, but also monitor the spread of diseases and infections.
He stressed the timeliness of the grant assistance in the form of medical equipment during the Pandemic (COVID-19). The second wave of the pandemic is moving through Pakistan, and the number of patients is higher, thus overloading the health systems in Pakistan.
This grant would supplement hospital health services, minimizing the risk to health staff and doctors during the care of COVID patients due to personal protective equipment. It can support frail and critical patients with ventilators, oxygen tanks, and generators.
Japan was also recognized for its continued support for health, education and defense, as well as for reducing and monitoring floods and earthquakes at various stations across Pakistan via Radar Weather Surveillance.
The Secretary of the Division of Economic Affairs appreciated the support of the Japanese Government and the citizens of Japan, with the assurance that any appropriate facilitation for more substantive cooperation between the two sides would be extended in the future.
