ISLAMABAD: Japan on Monday announced increase in its grant assistance for Pakistan from $14.99 million to $20.57m for the installation of weather surveillance radar in Multan.

The Japanese government has been assisting Pakistan proactively, in the enhancement of weather surveillance capacity since the 1980s, in order to mitigate damage by floods.

The total amount of Japanese assistance for weather surveillance radars in Pakistan has reached equivalent to around $82.9m.

Responding to the request of Pakistan, the Japanese government approved the additional financing for the weather surveillance radar project in Multan, equivalent to about $5.58m. Original notes for the project were signed between the two countries in August 2018.

For provision of additional grant assistance, the notes were signed and exchanged between Charge d’Affaires of Japan Embassy, Ito Takeshi and Secretary for Economic Affairs Division Dr Kazim Niaz in Islamabad on Monday.

So far, Japan has supported the installation of six weather radars in the cities of Islamabad, Karachi, Dera Ismail Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Multan and Sukkur and will cover 80 per cent of the country and benefit 90pc of the entire population.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2023