Japan gives Rs28m for education in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Japan has extended financial support of Rs28 million to three Pakistani NGOs for improvement of educational facilities: Farmers Development Organization, Sanjh Foundation and Shewa Educated Social Workers Association (SESWA).
The agreements for the three projects were signed on February 12, 2015, at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence in Islamabad, between H.E. Mr. Hiroshi Inomata, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan and the heads of the three organisations.
Farmers Development Organization will utilise its grant of US$ 87,256 for the construction of a primary and middle school in a rural locality of District Multan that is currently lack of suitable educational facilities. The grant of US $ 99,394 to SESWA on the other hand will be used for the construction of a girls’ primary and middle school in District Swabi, in order to promote female education. Similarly, a primary and middle school for girls will be established in order to enhance rural female education in District Muzaffargarh, through the grant of US $ 89,696 to Sanjh Foundation.
The Government of Japan has given high priority to empowerment of women both in Japan and other countries under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. These projects form a part of this commitment.
At the signing ceremony, Ambassador Inomata emphasised the importance of improving access to basic education in this country, particularly for girls. He expressed his hope that the projects supported today would contribute to Pakistan’s goal of eliminating regional and gender disparities in terms of educational opportunities and in doing so would certainly strengthen the friendly relations between the people of Japan and Pakistan.
Earlier, agreements for eight other projects on education, health and infrastructure were signed in September and November, 2014. Hence, the amount the Government of Japan provided to Pakistani NGOs during the current Japanese Fiscal Year (which starts in April) adds up to US $1,025,164 in total. Moreover, agreements for four more projects, two for rural infrastructure and one each for clean drinking water and health, are scheduled to be signed next week.
The Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP) Programme is an initiative of the Japanese government with the belief that, in consideration of the enormity of the challenges being faced by the world today. Since it began in 1989, the GGP Programme has supported 340 projects in Pakistan, with a contribution of more than 2.3 billion Japanese Yen.