Japan Allocates 326 Million Yen for Scholarships to Strengthen Pakistan’s Public Sector

Islamabad, The Government of Japan has committed 326 million Japanese Yen (approximately 2.08 million USD) to the Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) program in Pakistan, aimed at bolstering the nation’s public sector through advanced education.

According to Embassy of Japan in Pakistan, the announcement was made at a signing ceremony where Mr. Mitsuhiro WADA, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, and Dr. Kazim Niaz, Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, signed the Exchange of Notes. The Grant Agreement was also signed between Mr. Saeed Ashraf Siddiqi, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Mr. MIYATA Naoaki, Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Pakistan.

The JDS program supports social and economic development in Pakistan by enabling government officials to pursue Master’s or Doctoral degrees in Japan. This initiative aims to improve their expertise in public administration and foster stronger ties between Japan and Pakistan. Since its inception in 2018, the program has seen 50 Pakistani officials complete their degrees, with 33 currently enrolled and an additional 17 set to join in 2024.

This year marks the enrollment of the seventh batch of participants, with 17 slots allocated for Master’s degrees and one for a Doctoral degree. The initiative is part of the “People First” pillar of Pakistan Vision 2025, focusing on the development of social and human capital to meet the country’s complex development challenges.

Mr. MIYATA emphasized the long-standing impact of Japan’s Official Development Assistance, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, noting that approximately 7,000 Pakistani officials have benefited from the training programs to date. He expressed hope that both current participants and alumni will continue to contribute to Pakistan’s development and the enhancement of its relationship with Japan.