Japan pledges $263m for human resource scholarships in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Japan on Tuesday signed an agreement under which the Japanese government will provide grant assistance of $263 million for human resource development in Pakistan.

The agreement for the “Human Resource Development Scholarship” was signed by Secretary Economic Affairs Dr. Kazim Niaz and the Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan. The grant aims to equip young professionals of the federal government with higher education opportunities in Japan.

According to a statement issued by the Economic Affairs Division, 16 federal employees will be selected to pursue master’s degrees in top universities in Japan under the latest phase. The program, run in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), aims to strengthen the management capacity and policy-making skills of public sector officers.

The division spokesperson said that since its inception in 2018, seven batches of Pakistani government employees have benefited from the scholarship, adding that the scheme has played a significant role in professional development and bilateral cooperation.

Secretary Kazim Niaz thanked the government and people of Japan for their continued support and investment in Pakistan’s human capital. He said that such initiatives not only enhance individual capabilities but also play a significant role in national development.

The Japanese Ambassador, while reiterating Japan’s commitment to Pakistan’s development journey, said that we are proud of our long-standing partnership with Pakistan and will continue to support human resource development through JICA and other initiatives.