E X P L O R E      P A S S U

PRESS RELEASE

JAPAN EXTENDS 4.7 MILLION RUPEES TO SAVE SOME 125 HOUSEHOLDS FROM LOSS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND

PRESS RELEASE No: JPNEMPAK 03-035

   Islamabad : October 23, 2003

     Japan extended US $ 81,565 (approx. 4.7 million Rupees) to save the Passu village from soil erosion and loss of old agricultural land.

     The grant contract was signed on 21^st October in Islamabad between His Excellency Mr. Minoru Shibuya, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan and Mr. Zafar Iqbal, Chairman, Passu Development Organization.

     “The Project for Protective Work in Passu, Northern Areas” is aimed to execute protective construction work on the right bank of river Hunza to control the flow of water. For this purpose, spurs that will function as obstacles will be constructed along the bank of river.  It is estimated that some 125 households with an estimated population of about 1000 residents will directly benefit from this project.

             This project is funded through Japan ’s Grassroots Assistance (GRA) Programme. The Government of Japan initiated GRA scheme for Pakistan in 1989. Since then the Embassy of Japan has continuously supported small-scale development projects to improve the social well being of the people at the grassroots level. So far US $ 10,453,751 have been provided to 208 projects all over Pakistan , including this project.

             The Government of Japan intends to give good attention to the projects of humanitarian nature such as those concerning primary health, basic education, vocational training/skill development, special education, agriculture, public welfare/basic infrastructure, environment and women-in-development.

             NGOs, local governments, research and medical institutions (schools, hospitals etc.) interested in availing support under this GRA scheme can contact the Embassy of Japan’s Development Section, GRA unit Tel: 051-2279320 (ext.252), Fax 051-2825307 for further details.

 The GRA application form can also be downloaded from Embassy of Japan’s official web site at: http://www.pk.emb-japan.go.jp/ECONOMIC/GRA_application.htm   

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