ISLAMABAD: The Japanese government will provide a grant assistance of $2.16 million to Pakistan to deal with the escalating number of coronavirus infections in the country.

Of the $2.16m grant, $1.62m will come through Unicef and $540,000 through the International Organisation for Migration, according to statement issued recently.

Japanese Ambassador Matsuda Kuninori commended the efforts by the government and the people of Pakistan against Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, as the pandemic was becoming even more serious worldwide, he added.

“The Japanese government always stands by Pakistan,” the envoy added and also referred to Japan’s aid amounting to $229 million provided to Pakistan over the years for its polio eradication programme since 1996.

“Thus, the Japanese government would like to cooperate again with the Pakistani government in its fight against the novel coronavirus infections,” he said.

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar thanked the Japanese government for the grant assistance to deal with the virus. “We have also allocated Rs2.5 billion from our existing unspent grant funds in Pakistan towards health projects,” he said

This assistance, according to the statement, is intended to reduce and delay the transmission of Covid-19, decrease associated deaths, ensure ongoing health services during epidemic peak periods and minimise the socio-economic impact.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2020