Japan to provide financial, technical assistance to Pakistan for

Islamabad, June 13 (PPI): Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) would provide financial and technical assistance to Pakistan to overcome environmental problems including impacts of climate change, smoke of vehicles, sanitation problems and melting of glacier.

This was agreed at a meeting between Federal Minister for Environment, Hamidullah Jan Afridi and JICA's representative to
Pakistan, Mr.Takao, who called on him here Thursday.

Federal Minister said that in order to create awareness about environmental problems and their solutions, 2009 would be celebrated as Year of Environment. He said programmes are being formed, in this regard.

He further said that government of Pakistan has abolished duty on CNG buses for betterment of environment.

Federal Minister said that a project has been launched for checking pollution and
examining the vehicles and in the first phase, it

would be implemented in Islamabad. He said a sum of Rs 240 million would be spent on
this project. He added that government of Japan can assist Pakistan's government to
expand this project till provincial governments.

He said that Japan could also provide assistance to transfer technology used in
manufacturing products from plastic bags and garbage.

JICA head said that Japan values great to environment sector and assured that all
possible financial and technical assistance would be provided to Pakistan. He
assured full cooperation regarding giving remaining funds and inauguration of
laboratories, set up for protection of environment.