Japan expands scholarship support for Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Japan signed a 350 million Japanese yen ($2.2 million) grant agreement on Tuesday to strengthen the Human Resources Development Scholarship Programme.
The agreement will expand training opportunities for Pakistani civil servants and support postgraduate studies in Japan.
Under the programme, 17 federal officials will receive scholarships, including 16 master’s placements and one PhD opportunity.
Economic Affairs Secretary Muhammad Hameer Karim and Japanese Ambassador Akamatsu Shuichi signed the Record of Discussions.
Meanwhile, Senior Joint Secretary Miran Mohiuddin Soomro and JICA Chief Representative Yusuke Shinazaki signed the grant agreement.
Officials from Japan’s embassy, JICA and Pakistan’s Economic Affairs Ministry attended the ceremony.
JICA to deepen development cooperation
The JDS programme has supported eight batches of Pakistani civil servants since its launch in 2018.
Japan also regularly provides Pakistani officials with short-term training under its capacity-building initiatives.
Speaking at the ceremony, Karim thanked Japan for its continued support and efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Meanwhile, the Japanese ambassador and JICA representative reaffirmed their commitment to expanding longstanding ties between both countries.
The agreement follows recent discussions between Pakistan and JICA on broader development cooperation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently urged greater Japanese cooperation in skills development, mineral exploration and support for small businesses.
JICA President Dr Tanaka Akihiko expressed readiness to expand cooperation in health, education, infrastructure, technical training and industrial development.
Earlier, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema invited JICA to help finance the Main Line-1 railway project alongside other development partners.
