Japan to provide US$19 million for Sukkur weather radar

The new radar will enhance Pakistan’s weather surveillance capacity

The Government of Japan will provide grants amounting to approximately 1.99 billion Japanese Yen (about US$19 million or Rs3 billion) for the installation of weather surveillance radar in Sukkur, Sindh province.

H.E. Matsuda Kuninori, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan and Noor Ahmed, Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs in Islamabad, signed the agreement and exchanged notes.

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Khusro Bakhtyar and Furuta Shigeki, Chief Representative, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Pakistan Office also witnessed the signing ceremony.

Japanese Ambassador said that the Japanese government will continue to ensure that Pakistan becomes weather resilient and benefits from Japan’s experience.

The new radar will help covers a gap for weather surveillance and the weather surveillance network will cover about 90% of the whole country. It is expected that this project will enhance Pakistan’s weather surveillance capacity and contribute to the mitigation of damages caused by natural and hydro-meteorological disasters. 

“The Government of Japan will continue to work together with Pakistan to make this country disaster-resilient, making good use of experience and expertise Japan has gained from many disasters in the past,” the ambassador said. Furuta Shigeki mentioned, “Enhancement of weather surveillance capacity will mitigate the damage caused by natural disasters”. Both emphasized importance of disaster management.

“Japanese economic assistance has played a vital role in the socio-economic uplift of Pakistan,”  Secretary Economic Affairs Division (EAD) Noor Ahmad said, adding that Pakistan greatly values its ties with Japan and both countries share a mutual stance on most of the regional and international issues.

He also acknowledged Japan as Pakistan’s key development partner, which has always helped Pakistan during health emergencies such as polio and the COVID-19 outbreak.

Previously, weather surveillance radars were upgraded in Islamabad and Karachi, and aid was provided for the establishment of a surveillance radar in Multan under JICA’s grant aid.

Pakistani officials appreciated the previous assistance extended by Japan for the installation of the weather radars in Karachi, Islamabad and Multan and for developing specialised medium range weather forecasting centre (SMRFC) to strengthen Pakistan’s weather forecasting system.

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