JICA to establish first Highway Research center in Pakistan
Pakistan Times National News Desk

ISLAMABAD: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed an agreement with the government of Pakistan for establishing first Highway Research and Training Center in the country.

The agreement was signed by Chairman National Highway Authority Major General Farrukh Javed, Joint Secretary Ministry of Communications Firdaus Alam and JICA's Resident Director Ketao Kaibara here on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion Chairman NHA Major General Farrukh Javed said, establishment of research centre will further cement friendly ties between Pakistan and Japan.

He said, Japan is already providing Pakistan with valuable technical and financial assistance in the field of road construction. The famous Friendship Tunnel (Kohat) is a great manifestation of this mutual cooperation, he added.

He said, JICA's Technical Cooperation Programme will spread over a period of 5-year. It will include establishment of institutional framework, developed system of research and training for highway pavements, safety, environment, construction, maintenance and operations.

Chairman NHA hoped that the centre would expand to other SAARC countries and serve as a regional R&D centre in the upcoming years.

It will also make Pakistan as an information leader in South Asia in this regard, he added. The center will act as a base for engineers to refine their knowledge in planning, design, execution, monitoring, operation and maintenance of highways in the country, he said.

The technical cooperation programme is scheduled to commence with the arrival of Japanese experts from February 2007 to assist in developing safe, durable, economical and environment-friendly network of roads.●