ZUBAIR QURESHI
The government of Japan has decided to provide grant of US$ 250,000 through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to the government of Pakistan to equip the Pakistani people to fight against the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection. This is going to be the second cache of assistance by the Japanese government in fight against coronavirus. Earlier on April 1, the government of Japan had announced grant of $1.620 million through The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and $ 0.540 million (totaling US$ 2.16 million) through International Organization for Migration (IOM) to the Pakistani government for the same cause. With this support of IFRC, the Government of Pakistan will be strengthened on surveillance, contact tracing, screening and will also be equipped with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), medical consumables and medical equipment to prevent the spread of COVID-19. IFRC will contribute to reducing morbidity, mortality and social impacts of COVID-19 outbreak by preventing or slowing transmission and helping to ensure communities affected by the outbreak to maintain access to basic social services. Ambassador of Japan Matsuda Kuninori while commending the efforts of the Government of Pakistan and its people against the COVID-19 as the issue is becoming even more serious worldwide reassured the government of Japan would remain committed to assisting Pakistan in its goal to fight against COVID-19. “Japan proactively takes initiatives to tackle with this issue of COVID-19 working with the international community,” said he. Japan’s assistance provided to Pakistan for COVID-19 is US$ 2.45 million in total including the amount of US$ 0.25 million through IFRC. Japan is further willing to cooperate with the Government of Pakistan to fight against the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection, said the ambassador in a statement.
