The governments of Pakistan and Japan have recently collaborated to strengthen the Human Resource Development Scholarship Programme (JDS) 2024 by signing a grant agreement worth $2.1 million. This agreement was formalized through the signing of the Exchange of Notes (E/N) by Mitsuhiro Wada, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, and Dr. Kazim Niaz, Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, at a ceremony held on Thursday. Furthermore, a Grant Agreement (G/A) for the aforementioned programme was also signed between Saeed Ashraf Siddiqi, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Miyata Naoaki, Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Pakistan Office.
The JDS programme aims to facilitate the social and economic development of Pakistan by offering government officials the opportunity to pursue Master’s or Doctoral degrees in Japan, with a focus on enhancing their knowledge in public administration and fostering stronger ties between Japan and Pakistan. Participants of the JDS programme will be enrolled at partner universities in Japan, where they are expected to gain in-depth knowledge in their respective fields while immersing themselves in Japanese culture and traditions.
Japan, through JICA, has shown consistent support to Pakistan by providing the 7th instalment of the JDS project since its inception in 2018. This year, the grant will offer 17 scholarships for Master’s programmes and one for a PhD/Doctorate programme at prestigious universities in Japan for young Federal Civil Service and Ex-Cadre officers of Pakistan. Over the years, the JDS scholarships have significantly contributed to enhancing the capacity and performance of young officers, who play a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of Pakistan. Additionally, Japan frequently invites Pakistani government officials to participate in various short-term training courses in Japan.
During the ceremony, Dr. Niaz expressed gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for their unwavering support and commitment to fostering meaningful cooperation between the two nations. Ambassador Wada Mitsuhiro and Chief Representative Naoaki Miyata assured us of their dedication to working closely with the government of Pakistan to strengthen friendly ties and bilateral cooperation further.
Ambassador Wada emphasized that the project supports ‘People First’, the initial pillar of the Pakistan Vision 2025, which prioritizes the development of social and human capital for sustainable development in the country. He also acknowledged the importance of social and human capital development in public administration for addressing the multi-dimensional development challenges in Pakistan. Miyata, while speaking at the event, expressed the desire for JDS fellows and past trainees to contribute to the development of Pakistan and further improve the relationship between the two countries in the future.
