Pak-Japan ink relief grants agreement of $20million
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—An Exchange of notes regarding the relief assistance of US $ 20 million for earthquake victims was signed here between Ms.Hina Rubbani Khar, Minister of State for Economic Affairs, and Nobuaki Tanaka the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan here on Monday.
The Japanese Government has offered a grant of US $ 20 million as emergency aid to Pakistan for the earthquake affected people,. US $ 12 million out of this amount, are available as cash grant to Pakistan directly and US $ 8 million will be disbursed to the United Nations in response to its flash appeal.
The US $ 12 million cash grant will be utilized through the Japan International Co-operation System (JICS) on bi-lateral basis to procure items/equipments on behalf of and based on the request of the Government of Pakistan. The JICS has prioritized a list of items for immediate procurement based on the note verbal of the Foreign Office and the meeting of the Prime Minister with donor agencies. This will include tents, mattresses, blankets, water tanks, medical supplies and emergency food.
Construction machinery will follow as part of a long term strategy, which will be devised later depending on the detailed survey reports to be carried out by Japanese experts. The Ambassador indicated that Japan would be interested to jointly undertake infrastructure work in Muzaffarabad, AJK, with the Asian Development Bank.