Karachi:The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has offered to extend assistance to the provincial government in various sectors including establishing fifty girls’ schools in Sindh.
In a meeting with Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah at his office on Tuesday, the four-member JICA delegation discussed different venues of cooperation.
Shohei Hara, Director General, South Asian Development, JICA, who led the delegation, informed that his country’s organization would soon start work on establishing the fifty girls’ schools in different districts across the province.
The JICA would also assist the provincial government in upgradation of Liaquat University of Medical Sciences (LUMS) Jamshoro.
Chief Secretary sought JICA assistance for improvement of Technical Education Institutions and told the delegation that there were 250 such institutions in the province, which need to be improved for producing market-oriented skilled manpower. “The local industries are in dire need of skilled manpower and the government wants to meet their demand by producing skilled workers of that level.”
Shohei Hara told that JICA President is scheduled to visit Pakistan next month and he would also hold meeting with Sindh Chief Minister to discuss and approve various projects. “The JICA would extend assistance to Sindh province for a number of projects in education, technical education, livestock and other sectors,” he said.
Mr. Hara told that JICA had been assisting Sindh since 1980s and completed many projects including Jamshoro Thermal Power Plant, Indus Highway and other projects in livestock sector. “Currently more than seventy Japanese companies are working in Sindh,” he said.
Chief Secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah briefed the delegation about successful completion of Thar Coal Power Plant project, improved infrastructure and peaceful atmosphere required for investment. He also informed the delegation about vast potential in tourism sector in Sindh.
Mr. Shigeki Furuta, Chief Representative, JICA in Pakistan also accompanied the delegation.