Japan offers $ 475Mln for highway projects in Pakistan
Pakistan Times National News Desk

KARACHI: The Federal Minister for Communications Mohammad Shamim Sidiqui said Japan has provided $ 475 million assistance for development of communications infrastructure in Pakistan with more financial and technical support in the pipeline.

He was addressing a seminar organized to celebrate 50th anniversary of Japan External Trade Organization.

The financial support was utilized to rehabilitate and upgrade 740 kilometers of Indus Highway, the second largest artery to connect North with South of the country. The assistance helped in perfecting the much-needed Kohat tunnel project, which was later named as Pak-Japan Friendship Tunnel.

He said that Japan has now provided financial assistance of Rs 6 billion for Indus Highway extension of 200 kilometers. They have also shown interest in helping construction of Muzaffargarh-DG Khan Highway, which will require Rs 6 billion. Japan is also willing to provide finances for of Rs 2 billion for the construction of main R C D highway and extend training facilities in construction industry.

Perspective

The government of Japan has been providing financial and technical support for the development of communication network in the country. On behalf of his Ministry he appreciated the assistance by Japan, which has provided a strong base for bringing about the much-required improvements in roads and other means of communications.

The minister said the Ministry of Communications has laid emphasis on development of infrastructure particularly the road network in the country. Pakistan is strategically located in South to provide links to landlocked central Asian countries. The new infrastructure will envisage economic activities and promotion of trade with other countries as Pakistan provides the shortest route for them to the warm waters of Arabian Sea.

“We have build a third port at Gwadar with the collaboration of Chinese government to meet the expected increase in rush from the Central Asian republics,” he added.

In a message from the Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives Jehangir Tareen Khan, he expected, the discussions and recommendations of the seminar would definitely strengthen bilateral economic and business ties between Pakistan and Japan and would help Pakistani industrialists and businessmen in the development of economy and industry.

He stated that Government of Pakistan and his Ministry has appreciated the efforts of JETRO since the last half-century for promotion of business and developments in important sectors like automotive, engineering, textile and others.

The Speakers

Others who spoke on the occasion included Takashi Saito, Executive Vice President JETRO; Nobuaki Tanaka Ambassador of Japan in Pakistan; Abid Javed Akhtar, Vice Chairman Export Promotion Bureau, Javed Akhtar Paracha Coordinator EDBP and Yukio Hasegawa Country Manager Mitsubishi Corporation of Pakistan.

The Japanese investment in Gwadar port related projects was also sought as this port offers the shortest possible route to sea for land locked countries in Asia including Central Asian Republics.●