RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The annual Japanese assistance to Pakistan in 2015 was approximately Rs 13 billion to development of social sector, Takashi Harada, Economic Counsellor of the Embassy of Japan said this during a media tour.

The Embassy of Japan on Thursday organised one day long “Japan Official Development Assistance (ODA) Press Tour” in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The purpose of the ODA Press Tour was to increase awareness on Japanese Assistance Projects/Initiatives in Pakistan, showing the actual project sites to the media persons.

In his welcome address, Takashi Harada said that government of Japan contributed to the development of Pakistan in various areas, especially in human resource development (HRD).

He said, “I hope the people of Pakistan will know more about our assistance, especially the diligence with which the Japanese experts are working together with Pakistani people for the betterment of Pakistan. The increased awareness regarding our assistance among Pakistanis will further strengthen the existing good relations between the two countries.”

He also expressed Japan’s commitment for future assistance in the field, explaining about “the Industrial Human Resource Development Cooperation Initiative” under which Japan will assist the development of 40,000 Asian people in the period of three years from 2015 to 2017.