ISLAMABAD: Japan will provide a grant of JPY 2.91 billion (USD18.62 million approximately) for the improving child health care facilities in South Punjab. A signing ceremony of the Grant Agreement, Exchange of Notes and Record of Discussion between the Governments of Pakistan and Japan under the project titled “Improvement of Child Health Care Facilities in South Punjab” was held at the Ministry of Economic Affairs on Tuesday. The Government of Japan has approved the grant through JICA under the Japanese Grant-in-Aid. READ MORE: Japan announces $3.5 million grant to support Pakistan’s anti-polio programme The project is to strengthen the diagnostic and treatment systems in the Children’s Hospital and ICH Multan and improve the function as an only specialized tertiary care hospital in the region through the expansion of the facility and the provision of medical equipment which are necessary to provide the healthcare services for high-risk neonates, infants and children with serious illness or injuries, thereby contributing to improving the quality of healthcare services for children in the southern Punjab and neighbouring provinces. The exchange of Notes were signed and exchanged by Muhammad Humair Karim, Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Akamatsu Shuichi, Ambassador of Japan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on behalf of their respective governments. Muhammad Humair Karim appreciated the Government and people of Japan for their valuable support with the assurance of extending all necessary facilitation to ensure successful implementation of the project and for more meaningful cooperation between the two sides. Akamatsu Shuichi assured the commitment of Japanese government to work closely with the Government of Pakistan to further strengthen the friendly ties and bilateral cooperation. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026