Japan contributes $3,730,935 to UNODC in Pakistan

Islamabad: The government of Japan Thursday announced a contribution of $3,730,935 to the UNODC Country Programme in Pakistan. The fund will be spent on four one-year projects aimed at enhancing air cargo security, combating transnational organized crime, strengthening border security against illicit drug trafficking, and response to counter terrorism.

The commitment was made at a play up media event jointly hosted by the UNODC Country Office in Pakistan and the Embassy of Japan, with officials from the Ministry of Narcotics Control, National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in attendance.

A breakup of the projects and funds that will receive the funding from April 2018 to March 2019 is as follows: combatting transnational organized crime and strengthening borders in Pakistan (US $2,545,335), strengthening the response of Pakistan’s action to Counter Terrorism Financing (US $500,000), improving forensic capacity of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to investigate terrorism cases (US $300,000) and enhancing air cargo security through establishment of Air Cargo Control Unit at Allama Iqbal International Airport (US $385,600).

Speaking on the occasion, the UNODC Country Office Representative in Pakistan Cesar Guedes expressed confidence that the projects will contribute to the vision of creating “a safer community, free from the threats posed by illicit narcotics trafficking and transnational organized crime.”

Guedes also said, “UNODC is leading global efforts against drug trafficking and is the sole guardian of all international conventions on drugs and transnational organized crime. The UNODC Country Office in Pakistan has been active for over 35 years and works in close collaboration with the government of Pakistan. Its mandate is to empower the government in its efforts to overcome the challenges associated with transnational organized crime, thereby contributing towards the nation’s stabilisation and development.”

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Pakistan Takashi Kurai reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to help Pakistan eradicate all types of transnational organized crime including illicit drug trafficking. Kurai said, the government of Japan stands committed to combating international criminal syndicates which through their illicit activities, hinder the economic development and prosperity of the Pakistani people.

Pakistan has been facing challenges at its western border with Afghanistan, which is used for not only but also legitimate trade and movement of people but is also preferred route for drugs and human trafficking. In recent years, the challenges alluded to have become more complex with the changing geo-political environment in the region, and this is particularly so with respect to transnational organized crime, illicit narcotics trafficking as well as human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

The security situation across Pakistan remains fragile and terrorists are regularly targeting civilians and law enforcement officials in Khyber KP, Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh. The primary focus of the efforts of law enforcement agencies in Pakistan for countering terrorism has been on intelligence, investigation and operations against suspected individuals and organisations without considering the financial mechanisms exploited by terrorists to fund their activities. An effective approach to countering terrorism is to diminish the strength of the terrorism economy, through all possible ways including tracing the financial sources of funding used by terrorists, seizing those sources, preventing individuals and organisations from raising funds nationally and internationally.