Japan to give Pakistan $1 bln in aid: Nikkei: Washington Time

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's government is finalizing plans to provide Pakistan with up to $1 billion in economic aid over the next two years, the Nikkei business daily reported Saturday.

The assistance would consist of yen loans and grant aid, and is aimed at helping poverty-stricken areas that could become breeding grounds for extremists, as well as finance infrastructure, education and job training, the Nikkei said.

Japan will announce the details on April 17 at a Pakistan donors conference in Tokyo that it is co-hosting with the World Bank, the paper said.

Pakistan has said it is seeking between $4 billion to $6 billion in aid pledges at the donors conference to fill a financing gap over the next two years.

For more on this article, please click on the following link: Japan to give Pakistan $1 bln in aid: Nikkei: Washington Time