Pakistan, Japan sign agreements on disaster management
Pakistan and Japan have signed bilateral agreements for implementation of two disaster management projects costing 36 million dollars.
These are aimed at improving the capacity of sewerage and drainage services and the weather forecasting system in Pakistan.
Bilateral agreements for “the Project for Upgrading of Mechanical System for Sewerage and Drainage Services in Gujranwala” and “the Project for Establishment of Specialized Medium Range Weather Forecasting Center and Strengthening of Weather Forecasting System” were signed by Secretary Economic Affairs Saleem Sethi and Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Inomata in Islamabad on Thursday.
The first project will help upgrade the existing sewerage and drainage capacity in Gujranwala city. This will ultimately help in improved sanitation and reduced risk of inundation caused by heavy rains.
Under the other project, the existing meteorological radar in Islamabad will be replaced, an upper-air observation system and a meteorological data communication system will be installed, and a Specialized Medium Range Weather Forecasting Center will be established.
It will enable the Pakistan Meteorological Department to improve the accuracy of weather forecasts and to disseminate these forecasts and warnings speedily.
Speaking on the occasion, the Ambassador said Japan gives high priority to disaster management in its development assistance for Pakistan. He noted that both Japan and Pakistan are disaster-prone countries and Tokyo will continue to work together to make Pakistan a disaster resilient country.