Japan to provide $207m soft loan to Pakistan
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—Japan would provide a soft loan of US$ 207m million to Pakistan for the two projects, construction of Indus Highway phase three and Dadu Khuzdar Transmission System Project, under its official Development Assistance.
Note to this effect were signed and exchanged between Secretary Economic Affairs Division Muhammad Akram Malik and Ambasssador of Japan toPakistan Mr. Seiji Kojima here on Wednesday.
Out of the total US$ 207 million soft loan, US$ 174 million will beallocated for Indus Highway Project and the remaining US$ 33 million will be provided for Dadu Khuzdar transmission system project.
Talking to Newsmen after signing cerimony, Akram Malik said that theconfessional loans carry an interest rate of one point three percent anda repayment period of thirty years including ten years grace period.
He said that the government has allocated Rs 55 billion for theinfrastructure developments and these two projects would greatly help the infrastructure building on which the government places high priority.
Japanese Ambassador said his country was increasing assistance toPakistan from many years and would further provide assistance inbudgetary support, infrastructure development, poverty reduction and Human resource development.