Pak: JBIC doubles ODA for development projects

Islamabad: The Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) has doubled its Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the tune of 47.973 billion yen or approx 478 million dollars to Pakistan as in the 2006 financial year, the assistance was only 23,157 million Yen for development projects.

The government of Pakistan, through the Economic Affairs Division and the Japan Bank of International Cooperation, has recently signed four agreements under the 2007 Official Development Assistance to the tune of 47.973 billion yen or approx 478 million dollars.

Under the agreement, the JBIC would provide an ODA of 478 million dollars to Pakistan's four projects - the Punjab transmission lines and grid stations project (I), the Punjab irrigation system improvement project, the rural road construction project (II) (Sindh) and The east-west road improvement project (N70) (I) - a JBIC statement said.

According to the agreement, the Punjab transmission lines and grid stations project (I) aims at improvement of the transmission lines and grid stations in Shalamar, Lahore, and Rahimyar Khan. It seeks to ensure stable power supply to Punjab by construction new or additional facilities of 500kV and 220kV of transmission lines and 500kV and 220kV grid stations.

The second project, the Punjab irrigation system improvement project aims at improving agricultural productivity by rehabilitating the irrigation system, better water resource management, improving irrigation service and establishing of farmers' organisation and covering the area of Bahawalpur, D.G. Khan, and Faisalabad.

The project will bring in an overall improvement in the agricultural productivity in these areas and will also benefit the farmers to earn better returns. The third project, rural road construction project (II) (Sindh) will improve rural roads in Sindh and this assistance will help the government to connect a number of villages in Sindh with each other and also to the nearest main roads in the remote areas.

The project is aimed at improving the transportation conditions in rural areas and the access to nearby city areas, which will create employment opportunities and chances of better returns as well. The fourth project, the east-West road improvement project (N70) (I) will link Multan in Punjab with Qila Saifullah in Balochistan, and assist to construct a 34-kilometere carriageway between Rakhi Gaaj and Bewata.

The Japanese assistance and expertise has been especially acquired for this 34-kilometre section that has a difficult terrain in this mountainous area. It is hoped that the use of advanced Japanese technology and their technical support, this project will be of great help in overcoming the construction difficulty of this area.

This project will also improve the transport communication and access between Punjab and Balochistan by widening N-70 (mountain area) and by partially changing the route. The project will ensure safe journey and also towards contributing to the development of the regional economy.