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Japan, Afghan NGO sign pact for reconstruction of bridge

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Japan has signed the first agreement with an Afghan NGO for grass-root assistance of $49,000 for the reconstruction of a bridge in Wardak, situated on Kabul - Kandhar Road.

The agreement was signed by the Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan, Minoru Kubota and NGO's. Representative Mohammed Karim at a local hotel here on Friday morning. The new bridge will be named Japan Bridge.

Because of the non-recognition of the Taliban government, this is the first direct assistance by the Japanese government to any entity there. However, this humanitarian assistance would be continued.

Briefing the newsmen on Japanese assistance to Afghanistan, Counsellor Masami Kinefuchi said that during this calendar year Japan had earmarked $ 14 million for the rehabilitation of infrastructure in Afghanistan. Of this the NGOs' share is $300,000, while the rest would go to the international organisation working for relief and rehabilitation there.

He further said the government-to-government assistance was not possible because Tokyo did not recognise the Taliban regime. He hoped that the grass-root assistance to the NGOs would be continued and increased in the coming years.

Earlier, the representative of Afghan NGO ACLU, Mohammed Karim explained the re-building of the bridge after Afghan war and thanked the Japanese government for their assistance.