PRESS RELEASE N0: JPNEMPAK 12-16

Islamabad: May 14, 2012

The Government of Japan has decided to extend Cultural Grant Assistance of 49 million Yen (approx. US$ 0.6 million) to the Government of Pakistan for “The Project for the Improvement of Audio Visual Equipment of the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage”, Lok Virsa.

The official Notes for the cultural grant assistance were duly signed and exchanged on 14th May, 2012 at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Statistics between H.E. Mr. Hiroshi Oe, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan and Dr. Waqar Masood Khan, Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Statistics.

Earlier in 1993, Japan had extended the cultural grant aid of 41 million yen to Lok Virsa for the set up of audio visual equipment at their media centre. The current aid will be utilized for the improvement of this audio visual equipment at the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage, Lok Virsa. The new audio visual equipment is the latest digital technology of high definition which will be useful for the preservation of folk and traditional heritage of Pakistan.

Japanese Cultural Grant Assistance is a part of the Official Development Assistance (ODA), provided to contribute to the promotion of cultural and higher educational activities and preservation of cultural heritage in developing countries.

In the signing ceremony, Mr. Hiroshi Oe, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan stated that this grant aid will surely be helpful towards the preservation of the folk and traditional cultural heritage of Pakistan.

He expressed his hope that this project will contribute to further strengthen the existing friendly relations between the people of Japan and Pakistan. (End)