ISLAMABAD, Dec 29: Japan will provide technical and financial assistance to Pakistan for human resource and infrastructural development.

This was stated by Japanese Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Keishiro Fukushima while talking to Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar at a meeting held here on Wednesday.

The Japanese official said assistance would be offered in a number of areas, however, primarily focus on human resource development, strengthening of infrastructure required for fast and balanced economic development, and urban renewal particularly that of Karachi.

Mr Fukushima appreciated President Gen Pervez Musharraf's idea of 'enlightened moderation' and said Japan desired to assist Pakistan in becoming a developed and modern Islamic state.

He said Japan was in the process of resuming the yen loan to Pakistan. The projects submitted by Pakistan for the purpose will be scrutinized and loan awarded against the approved projects, he added.

Hina Rabbani Khar thanked the Japanese parliamentary secretary for appreciating the idea of enlightened moderation and supporting the direction taken by the Pakistan government for socio-economic development.

Apprising Mr Fukushima of the steps taken by the government to improve the socio-economic situation of the country, she said Pakistan's economy had greatly stabilized, adding that the country had recovered substantially from the setbacks suffered during the 90s.

Ms Khar said the government had been gradually increasing the PSDP to allocate more resources for the development of social sector. She said education was amongst the top priorities of the government.

In this sector, the government is mainly focusing on increasing literacy rate, improving educational standards, ensuring enrolment of female students, mainstreaming of Madressahs and decreasing the dropout rate. The meeting was also attended among others by Japanese Ambassador Nobuaki Tanaka.