Grant Aid to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for the Project for the Enhancement of Training Capabilities of Construction Machinery Training Institute

January 5, 2006

The Government of Japan has decided to extend a grant aid of up to 27 million yen to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for the Project for the Enhancement of Training Capabilities of Construction Machinery Training Institute. Notes to this effect were exchanged on January 5 (Thu) in Islamabad between Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs now visiting Pakistan, and Mr. Khurshid M. Kasuri, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.
In Pakistan, more than 90% of passengers and goods are dependent on road transportation. Despite such critical importance the road sector has for the country's economic and social development, more than half of the roads are in poor condition and in need of urgent repair. To cope with this situation, the Government of Pakistan has been trying to secure a budget for repair work and procure construction machinery. However, Pakistan lacks operators for construction machinery, who are indispensable in improving infrastructure, both in quality and quantity. In particular, there is a shortage in technicians capable of handling modern construction machinery that has been rapidly computerized in recent years.

The Construction Machinery Training Institute, Pakistan's only public training institute, which was established with Japan's grant aid in 1984, is still using training equipment made in the 1980s and 1990s. The institute is therefore unable to train operators to handle computerized machinery.

Against such a backdrop, the Government of Pakistan has requested the Government of Japan to provide grant aid, with a view to accelerating the training of construction machinery operators by equipping the institute with new machinery and introducing a course that can meet the needs of construction sites.
The present grant aid will promote the training of Pakistani construction machinery operators. The number of the present trainees, about 800, will be increased to about 1,200 and technologically advanced training programs such as courses for construction machinery technicians will be newly developed. It is expected that engineers who will graduate from this institute will play an active role in improving Pakistan's infrastructure. They will enable Pakistan's road improvement projects to be carried out efficiently, thus contributing to the economic and social development of the country. It is also expected that through its training of technicians from Pakistan's neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, the institute will promote establishment of a commodity distribution network covering these countries.
This assistance in the area of human resource development will promote employment and contribute to reducing the number of the poor. Reduction of poverty is also an important issue as poverty may become a hotbed of terrorism.

(END)

Back to Index