ISLAMABAD; The Government of Japan has provided grant assistance of approximately 379 million Japanese Yen to support the Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) Program for fiscal year 2025 in Pakistan.
A formal signing ceremony took place in Islamabad, where H.E. Mr. AKAMATSU Shuichi, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, and Dr. Kazim Niaz, Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, exchanged Notes Verbale.
Additionally, a Grant Agreement detailing the implementation of the FY 2025 project was signed between Mr. Naoaki MIYATA, Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Pakistan, and Mr. Miran Mohiyuddin Soomro, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Launched in 2018, the JDS Program reflects Japan’s commitment to strengthening the administrative capabilities of the Pakistani government. It offers talented Pakistani civil servants the opportunity to pursue Master’s and Ph.D. degrees at leading universities in Japan. Candidates are drawn from key ministries involved in planning and executing Pakistan’s socio-economic development policies.
So far, JICA has facilitated the education of over 100 Pakistani government officers under this initiative, with nearly 70 scholars already completing their studies and returning to serve in Pakistan. The program’s key focus areas include public administration, economic development, industrial promotion, energy policy, climate change, agribusiness, and food security.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador AKAMATSU emphasized Japan’s recognition of the crucial role social and human capital development plays in Pakistan. He underscored the importance of building a responsive and accountable public administration to tackle the country’s diverse development challenges.
Mr. MIYATA of JICA added that the program would significantly boost Pakistan’s human resource capacity, equipping civil servants with advanced skills for policy planning and implementation. He also highlighted that the JDS Program stands as a symbol of the strong and enduring friendship between Japan and Pakistan.
