ISLAMABAD: Japan will provide Pakistan with a grant of Rs1.54 billion to fight against Covid-19.
An agreement to this effect was signed in the federal capital on Tuesday. Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan Kuninori Matsuda and Secretary Economic Affairs Noor Ahmed were present in the signing ceremony.
The grant will be helpful for the purchase of health-related equipment, particularly ventilators and oxygen cylinders.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary Economic Affairs Noor Ahmed expressed that Pakistan values bilateral and friendly relations with Japan and both countries share common views on most of the regional and international economic issues. He said that Japanese economic assistance has played and shall continue to play a vital role in the socio-economic uplift of Pakistan.
“Japan is still insisting on complete eradication till the zero polio patients are reported,” he added.
He also appreciated Japan’s assistance to build an intensive care unit and maternal and child health facilities at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad, worth JPY 3.62 billion. He added that Japan has extended similar grant assistance for Hyderabad (Sindh).
He highlighted that the grant assistance in the form of medical equipment during the pandemic (Covid-19) is timely.
“Pakistan is going through a second wave of the pandemic and the number of patients is higher, hence overburdening the health systems in Pakistan. This grant will supplement the health facilities of the hospitals, the risk to health workers and doctors shall be minimised,” he added.
The Japanese ambassador said that Japan will continue extending cooperation with Pakistan for its socio-economic development.
