Japan to provide $2m grant: Hammad

The Government of Japanese will provide $2 million in grant assistance to Pakistan for dealing with coronavirus (COVID-19).
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar thanked the Government of Japan for giving Pakistan a grant to help the fight against coronavirus pandemic.
The minister took to Twitter and said, "We are grateful to the Japanese government for providing $2 million in grant assistance through UNICEF and IOM to Pakistan for dealing with COVID-19. In addition they have allocated Rs2.5 billion from their existing unspent grant funds in Pakistan towards health projects," he added.
The Government of Japan has decided to provide grant of $1,620,000 through the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and $540,000 through International Organization for Migration (IOM) to the Government of Pakistan to equip Pakistani people to fight against the COVID-19.
This support will boost Pakistan's capacity to quickly track the coronavirus affected persons and treat them accordingly.
This assistance will reduce and delay the transmission of COVID-19, to minimise serious disease due to the COVID-19 and reduce associated deaths, to ensure ongoing health services during epidemic peak periods and to minimise socio-economic impact.
With the support of the UNICEF and the IOM necessary equipment/material will be provided to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 and technical assistance by considering the situation on the ground on the request of the Government of Pakistan.
The Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, Matsuda Kuninori, commended the tremendous efforts by the Government of Pakistan and its people against the COVID-19 as the issue is becoming even more serious worldwide.
He also added that, it was important for every state in the international community to take necessary steps to address this disease.
The Government of Japan always stands with Pakistan to fight against such viruses, referring to Japanese assistance of $229 million in total provided to Pakistan for polio eradication since 1996.