Japan grants aid for CMTI capacity building
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—the government of Japan has provided 890 million yen (approx US $ 8 million) as Grant Assistance for the Enhancement of Training Capabilities of Constitution Machinery Training Institute (CMIT).
The ground breaking ceremony in this connection was held at CMTO on Wednesday, which was attended by Mohammad Shamim Siddiqui, federal minister for Communication and Mr Hiroyuki Kishino, Charge`d’ Affaires, Embassy of Japan. The grant is aimed at supporting the government of Pakistan’s efforts to develop human resources and thus to revive the economy and reduce poverty.” Ensuring human security and human development” is one of the priority areas of Japan’s Country Assistance Program for Pakistan. Hence, the development of economic infrastructure is vital for supporting the country’s sustainable economic growth.
Project’s main components include (1) the provision of necessary construction machinery for training purposes such as bulldozers, hydraulic excavators, motor grades , crane simulators; (2) the provision of equipment for implementing new training courses along with PCs for CAD/CAM and for general usage; and (3) the construction of facilities such as new training campus, accommodation for trainees and a canteen.
CMTI was established in 1986 through Japan’s grant assistance which has recently been given a new name of Construction Technology Training Institute (CTTI) was Japan’s first comprehensive program in the construction machinery field in Pakistan, which included the provision of both facilities. Over the years CMTI has risen as an institute of international repute not only playing a valuable role for developing human resources in Pakistan, but also imparts training to participants from 20 other South Asian and African countries by JICA since 1995. While speaking at the ground breaking ceremony, Mr Hirouki Kishino said that the achievement of CTTI in training to date is also remarkable. For the past two decades 11,200 students in total completed various training course here as machine operators, mechanics, as well as engineers and 750 are currently under training. Moreover 193 foreign students have also been trained in accordance with JICA’s third country training program, added Mr Kishino.
He further said that CTTI is an ODA project in which Japan has been involved for more than 20 years. This is the second longest project of Japan in Pakistan only next to PIMS. Therefore, CTTI is another landmark project, which symbolizes the Japan-Pakistan partnership for development based upon our long friendship and mutual trust.