Face recognition system at airports: Japan agrees to extend Rs 205 million grant-in-aid

The Government of Japan on Monday agreed to extend a grant-in-aid "Economic and Social Development Programme", worth 200 million Japanese Yen, equivalent to around Rs205 million to install Face Recognition System at airports for security improvement in Pakistan.
The Face Recognition System is a computer application capable of identifying or verifying an individual from a digital image of human face captured by video cameras.
Recently it has been utilised more in security systems due to its advantages and unique characters, such as its capacity of mass identification at the same time and the easiness due to no necessary physical interaction with the subject, unlike fingerprint.
Consequently, this system has been adopted at places especially where many people get together like airport in many countries.
The signing for the project took place between Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, Takashi Kurai and Secretary of Economic Affairs Division (EAD),Tariq Bajwa here.
This grant aid is designed to support the promotion of the economic and social development of developing countries in the field of security improvement and counterterrorism by providing equipment in which Japanese advanced technologies are used.
It is supposed to provide an Advanced Face Recognition System to Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), upon its request (further details of the procurement will be determined between the Japanese and Pakistani counterparts).
In addition to this project, Japan has been assisting Pakistan through
implementation of various projects in the field of security.
The X-ray scanning devices have been installed at three international airports (Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad) and similar projects are now underway at Karachi and Bin Qasim International Ports.
Last year, Japan handed over 123 Japanese Hybrid Vehicles to the Ministry of Interior and National Highway Police for patrolling.
Moreover, in collaboration with UNODC Pakistan, the 4-year project on strengthening border management and illegal drug control has just started this May.
At the signing ceremony, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, Takashi Kurai said "Security enhancement is indispensable for successful socio-economic development in Pakistan.
This Japanese advanced system would serve the crime deterrent at the airport and would improve the security of passengers and people working at the airport."
He also emphasised his hope that like all the other assistance of Japan, provision of this recognition system will contribute to strengthening further the friendship and good will between Japan and Pakistan, which have been fostered over the long history.