ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Somalia and Pakistan governments have signed of an agreement for grant of US$ 10.5 million and provision of technical assistance for development of Somalia’s National Identification System.
The Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi witnessed signing of an agreementon Wednesday after signing ceremony was held at his office in Islamabad.
The ceremony was attended by Minister for Finance Miftah Ismail, Special Assistant to PM, Dr. Musadiq Malik, Somali Minister of State for Interior Abdullahi Farah Wehliye, Dr. Nur Derie Hersi, Head of ID project, Ambassador Khadija Mohamed and other senior officials.
Pakistan says it would develop and supply technology, software and equipment to enable the Somalia to have a state-of-the-art national data and citizen registration system.
The ‘knowledge and technology’ transfer will also help Somalia in Border Management and Elections Management system, according to statement issued by Pakistan.
Somali Minister for Interior, Abdullahi Farah Wehliye has thanked Pakistan for its assistance to help and develop National ID System of Somalia.
Wehliye urged Pakistan to open its embassy in Somali capital of Mogadishu, in a bid to strengthen the relations between Mogadishu and Islamabad.
For his part, Minister for Finance Miftah Ismail reciprocated the warm sentiments of the Somalian Minister and said that Pakistan valued its ties with Somalia.
Ismail said it would help in further enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries.
The project complements the Government’s “Look Africa” policy for enhanced engagement with the African continent, the statement said.
With reporting by Abdirisak Mohamud Tuuryare from Mogadishu, Somalia.
