950830

Japanese assistance rose

to Rs 2.6 bn during

last fiscal

KARACHI: Japan which signed three important grant-in-aid agreements in recent months continues to maintain its position as Pakistan's largest aid donor, and its total grant assistance during the last fiscal year has risen to 7,253 million yen (Rs 2.6 billion).

A grant signed recently will be a boon for Pakistani television viewers living in distant and inaccessible areas of the country. Pakistan Television Corporation's education channel (PTV-2) project is fully assisted by Japan and this grant-in-aid amounting to 792 million yen (nearly Rs 288.29 million) will be utilized for establishing 11 additional re-broadcast stations for PTV-2.

On completion of this project, the PTV telecasts will over 75 percent of the Pakistani population. Since these re-broadcast stations will also be used by the PTV network in the evening, this grant will benefit a large part of Pakistan's television viewers in the remote areas by providing them with information, entertainment and education.

Another grant of 974 million yen (approximately Rs 341.8 million) has also been finalized for the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU). It will be used by the university for implementing its project for upgrading educational facilities of the Institute of Educational Technology (IET), which is undertaking major educational projects on audio-visual programmes and tapes.

These programmes are broadcast by Radio Pakistan and the PTV-2 the project visualizes the replacement of obsolete audio-visual equipment and media production facilities of the IET.

The AIOU and the PTV-2 are providing crucial support to formal and non-formal education needs of people, including the fields on health, hygiene, sanitation, agriculture, population planning, etc., the Japanese grant will significantly assist both organizations' efforts in attaining the vitally important objectives of increasing literacy and awareness in Pakistan.

Yet another grant of 48 million yen (about Rs 17.4 million) is for provision of audio-visual equipment for Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Islamabad. This museum is one such of its kind in Pakistan, and the grant will enable it to enhance its audio-visual library regarding the natural history of Pakistan.

This museum is providing invaluable information for the Pakistani people, and the government of Japan is especially proud to be associated with this venture.

Japan has also agreed to provide a grant of 839 million yen (nearly Rs 304.5 million) to provide an additional five drilling rigs for exploitation of ground water in the NWFP.

In April 1986 Japan provided four drilling rigs to the NWFP government to develop ground water for irrigation purposes, and these rigs have successfully drilled 102 tubewells in the province, including an area of 3910 hectares.

The additional five rigs will double the NWFP agricultural departments' potential to exploit groundwater resources of the province. This project will assist Pakistan in future improving its food production, and the newly irrigated areas will be a fitting tribute to the friendship between the two countries.-PPI