Japan to provide USD 4.4 million grant to install Facial Recognition System at Pakistani Airports

The Japanese Government has agreed to provide a grant of ¥500 million for improving security by installing “Facial Recognition System” at major airports of Pakistan.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has extended grant assistance amounting to ¥ 500 million (US $ 4.46 million) for improvement of Airports Security at three International Airports i.e, Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad, Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore and Multan International Airport, Multan. Japan also provided a grant of 200 Japanese Yen last year for security improvements.

Considering the terrorism challenges faced by Pakistan, Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority is restructuring the security systems by upgrading the security equipment according to international standards.

Japan will provide the cutting-edge technology for facial recognition with Security Monitoring CCTV Cameras System. The digital face images will be monitored through computers in order to identify the terrorists or any suspicious activity taking place at the airports. This will be a way to safeguard passengers and their belongings, airlines and its assets, aircraft, national assets and officials from the acts of illegal interference.

Japan also assisted in the installation of X-ray scanning devices at Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad airports, last year.

The “Economic and Social Development Program” is an initiative of Japan towards developing countries by which it supports the economic and social development by providing advanced Japanese technologies.

The Record of Discussion and official note for the grant were exchanged in the Economic Affairs Division. Tariq Pasha, Secretary Economic Affairs Division and H.E. Takashi Kurai, Ambassador of Japan, signed the Exchange of Note and Record of Discussion on behalf of their governments.