Islamabad, In a move to address the aftermath of the 2022 floods and heavy monsoon showers in Sindh, the Governments of Pakistan and Japan have formalized a grant agreement for “The Programme for Reconstruction of Educational Facilities in Flood-affected Areas in Sindh.” Held at the Economic Affairs Division on October 18th, 2023, the ceremony marked the exchange of Notes and the Grant Agreement, wherein the Japanese government pledged a grant of JPY794 million (equivalent to approximately US$ 5.3 million) to Pakistan, facilitated via JICA. The grant focuses on the reconstruction of nine school buildings that faced severe damage across six districts of Sindh.

The initiative aims to restore a safe learning atmosphere, paying special attention to the educational accessibility for girls. The signatories included Dr. Kazim Niaz, Secretary, Economic Affairs Division (EAD) and H.E. Mr. WADA Mitsuhiro, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, representing their respective governments, with the Grant Agreement officiated by Mr. Saeed Ashraf Siddiqi, Joint Secretary EAD, and Mr. Yasutimsu Kinoshita of JICA. As the ceremony concluded, Dr. Kazim Niaz expressed gratitude towards Japan’s sustained support and emphasized mutual cooperation’s significance, with Ambassador Mitsuhiro echoing similar sentiments of strengthening bilateral relations. This information was provided by the Press Information Department.