The government of Japan extended a grant of $102,008, approximately Rs 10.2 million, to Jam-e-Shafa Organisation (JSO) for the purchase of ambulances under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) scheme.
The grant contract was signed at the Japan Information and Culture Center of the Consulate-General of Japan in Karachi, between Akira Ouchi, Consul General of Japan in Karachi and Lieutenant General Muhammad Ishaq (Retd) Chief Executive Officer of Jam-e-Shafa Organisation. Parvez Ghias, Chief Executive Officer of Indus Motors Company Limited was also present at the occasion.
The grant covers the cost of two ambulances fully equipped with basic life-support equipment to achieve the objective of providing efficient access to emergency services to save the lives of people in Quetta. In addition to the grant of about 10.2 million Rupees, 1.4 million Rupees are contributed by Indus Motors Company Limited. This project is the second case of public-private partnership between the Consulate General of Japan in Karachi and Indus Motors Company Limited.
The Government of Japan provided an ambulance and medical equipment to Jam-e-Shafa Organisation in 2003 and this project is to provide two new ambulances to replace the old ones. This project was realised as a result of Ouchi's meeting with Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, Chief Minister of Balochistan in April 2014 when he promised to consider Japan's assistance to Balochistan through GGP in the future.
At the signing ceremony, Ouchi sincerely hoped that the implementation of this project would improve emergency medical services and help save the lives of more people in Quetta. Ouchi also wished that this support from the people of Japan would further strengthen friendly relationship between Japan and Pakistan.-PR