By: Staff Reporter :
ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met a nine-member delegation led by Dr. Tanaka Akihiko, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening its seven-decade-long partnership with Japan and JICA.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan highly values its longstanding relationship with Japan and expressed confidence that Dr. Tanaka’s visit would further deepen bilateral ties. He noted that Pakistan had overcome difficult economic challenges through collective efforts and was now implementing reforms at a rapid pace to achieve sustainable economic growth.
Highlighting the government’s reform agenda, the Prime Minister said state revenues had doubled within three years as a result of structural reforms. He emphasized that providing youth with skills, technical training, and dignified employment opportunities, along with empowering women, remained among the government’s top priorities.
Shehbaz Sharif said the development of Pakistan’s minerals sector was a key priority and welcomed JICA’s technical cooperation in this area. He also stated that reforms had transformed the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) into a more effective institution, adding that JICA’s collaboration with SMEDA would help promote small and medium-sized enterprises and boost exports.
The Prime Minister also conveyed his condolences over the loss of lives caused by the recent earthquake in Japan.
JICA President Dr. Tanaka Akihiko thanked the Prime Minister for expressing sympathy over the earthquake and appreciated the warm hospitality extended during his visit to Pakistan. He said Pakistan and JICA share a long history of cooperation and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to expanding collaboration in health, education, urban and rural development, technical and vocational training, and industrial development.
Dr. Tanaka added that JICA would further strengthen cooperation in line with the development priorities of Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments. He also noted that Japan and the international community appreciate Pakistan’s leadership and efforts to promote peace in the Middle East.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Ahsan Khan Cheema, Dr. Musadik Malik, Hanif Abbasi, Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Special Assistants Syed Tariq Fatemi and Haroon Akhtar, along with senior government officials.
