ISLAMABAD: Japan has agreed to provide grant aid of $19 million for two Pakistani projects.

Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Inomata and Economic Affairs Division Secretary Saleem Sethi signed agreements about the projects on behalf of their governments here on Wednesday.

Under the agreements, Japan will install cargo security clearance system at Karachi and Qasim ports as per international standards and help save energy in the water supply system in Lahore.

The first project involves three units of ‘gantry type’ x-ray container inspection equipment. A unit of mobile x-ray container for backup of the ‘gantry type’ and other inspection equipment would also be introduced at the two ports.

This would facilitate Customs officials in conducting inspection of consignments. Japan will also provide training for operation and maintenance to personnel selected for the project.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, who was present at the signing ceremony, said the government was looking forward to enhancing Japanese investment in Pakistan.

“Inauguration of the state-of-the-art Yamaha motorcycle plant near Karachi in April would add another chapter to our economic cooperation,” he said.

Agreements about implementation of the two projects were also signed by chief representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Mitsuyoshi Kawasaki and Joint Secretary of Economic Affairs Division Syed Mujtaba Hussain.

On the occasion Mr Kawasaki said: “Through improvement of security and energy saving, the two projects will contribute to the stability and sustainable development of Pakistan.”

Earlier, Ambassador Inomata said his government had expressed its desire to cooperate with Pakistan in fiscal and structural reforms and security improvement during Mr Dar’s visit to Japan.

Japan also wanted to help Pakistan in curbing terrorism, he said.

The Lahore project would help save energy at water supply facilities and enhance capacity after replacement of around 105 water pumps.

Audit instruments would also be introduced for improved operation and maintenance of tube-wells. The project would have a synergetic effect on lowering the high energy cost for the Water and Sanitation Agency of Lahore.

The Japanese government had in November committed to providing 1.6 trillion yen ($16bn) of public and private finance to developing countries over a period of three years to support their response to climate change. The Lahore project was part of this commitment, according to the Japanese envoy.

Published in Dawn January 29th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play