Tokyo - Japan aims to gather 4 billion dollars in assistance over a two-year period from member states at an international donor conference on Pakistan scheduled for Friday, while planning to make significant commitment, Foreign Ministry officials said Tuesday. The host of the one-day conference hopes that 30 participating nations and international groups would donate 4 billion dollars over two years.

During the conference, Japan also plans to make "a significant pledge" of up to 1 billion dollars to helping Pakistan, which suffers from increased violence at its tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, ministry officials were quoted as saying by The Nikkei business news.

With the World Bank and Japan as co-chairs, the conference is aimed at bringing peace and stability to the country and helping it overcome economic challenges. (dpa)