July 08, 2008	Tuesday	Rajab 4, 1429

ISLAMABAD, July 7: The Japanese government on Monday formally handed over the Leh Nullah Flood Forecasting and Warning System to the Pakistani authorities for handling any deluge during the monsoon season.

The system was launched in 2007 by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) as part of grant assistance, and Japanese experts were engaged in training local authorities about the system installed in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Japan had also extended a grant aid of Rs360 million for the installation of the system.

The system was handed over to Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf by Japanese Ambassador Seiji Kojima during a ceremony held here at the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). The flood forecasting and warning system has been installed at the Met Office, Federal Flood Commission (FFC), Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) Rawalpindi and Town Municipal Administration (TMA) Rawal Town.

The system includes six telemetry rain gauge stations in the catchment area of Nullah Leh, 10 remote control sirens in Rawalpindi, and two monitoring stations. The system would be supervised by the FFC and would work in close liaison with the other stakeholders.

Speaking on the occasion, the Japanese ambassador said the installation of the system was necessary keeping in view the disaster caused by deluge in Nullah Leh on July 23, 2001, in which 74 people were killed and some 3,000 houses were destroyed.

“My country would make all possible efforts to help Pakistan in disaster management. I am convinced Pakistan would become a disaster-resilient country with better preparedness and extensive know-how through our time-tested bilateral relations,” the Japanese envoy asserted.

On the occasion, Jica Deputy Resident Representative Mahmood A. Jilani was given a warm applause for his efforts in the installation of the system, which would save the people of the twin cities, particularly Rawalpindi, from the disaster of possible flood.

The minister also thanked Japan for its help in disaster management, saying that the flood warning system would help the residents of Rawalpindi to escape the damages of deluge in Leh.

PMD Director-General Dr Qamaruz Zaman, FFC Chairman I.B. Sheikh and other senior officials of other departments were also present on the occasion. The system would be controlled and monitored by local officials, who received training from Japanese experts.