ISLAMABAD: Japan has decided to release the fifth tranche of assistance worth $4 million to Pakistan to support its efforts to combat Covid-19.

Prior to this grant assistance, the Japanese government had provided a total assistance of $3,410,000 to Pakistan through the United Nations Children’s Fund, International Organisation for Migration, International Federation of Red Cross and UN High Commission for Refugees for a similar support, said a press release issued by the Japanese Embassy.

Through the fresh grant assistance, the United Nations Office for Project Services will provide necessary technical assistance and equipment and material to prevent the spread of Covid-19 by considering the situation on the ground as well as the request it received from Pakistan.

This support will boost Pakistan’s capacity to quickly track the people affected by coronavirus and treat them accordingly, which will help in reducing and delaying the local transmission of it, hence minimising the serious illness and associated deaths. It will also strengthen the ongoing health services during the fast approaching peak period of the pandemic.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2020