Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening its long-standing partnership with Japan during a meeting with a nine-member delegation led by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Dr. Tanaka Akihiko. The meeting underscored the importance both countries attach to expanding cooperation in economic development, technical assistance, and investment.
اسلام آباد: 5 اگست 2026۔
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) August 5, 2026
وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف سے جاپان انٹرنیشنل کوآپریشن ایجنسی (JICA) کے صدر ڈاکٹر تاناکا آکیہیکو (Dr Tanaka Akihiko ) کی قیادت میں 9 رکنی وفد کی آج اسلام آباد میں ملاقات ہوئی.
وفد سے گفتگو کرتے ہوئے وزیرِ اعظم نے کہا کہ پاکستان جاپان اور جائیکا کے ساتھ… pic.twitter.com/dqNXHwpYSL
Welcoming the JICA delegation, Prime Minister Shehbaz said Pakistan highly values its more than seven decades of friendship and development cooperation with Japan. He expressed confidence that Dr. Tanaka’s visit would inject fresh momentum into bilateral ties and open new avenues for collaboration in sectors that are vital for Pakistan’s economic transformation. The prime minister highlighted the government’s efforts to stabilize the economy after navigating a challenging period marked by financial pressures and external shocks. He said Pakistan had overcome significant economic difficulties through teamwork, prudent policymaking, and structural reforms. According to the prime minister, these reforms have placed the country on a path toward sustainable economic growth and have helped double state revenues over the past three years.
Emphasizing future priorities, PM Shehbaz identified Pakistan’s mineral sector as one of the government’s key areas of focus. He noted that the country possesses vast untapped mineral resources that can contribute significantly to economic development if developed efficiently. In this regard, he welcomed JICA’s technical expertise and cooperation, saying Japanese support could play an important role in modernizing the sector, improving exploration capabilities, and attracting greater investment.
The prime minister also discussed reforms undertaken at the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), stating that the organization has been transformed into a more effective institution capable of providing stronger support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). He said enhanced cooperation between JICA and SMEDA would help improve the competitiveness of Pakistani businesses, encourage entrepreneurship, and increase the country’s export potential. Pakistan and Japan have enjoyed a long history of development cooperation, with JICA contributing to major infrastructure, energy, transport, education, healthcare, and human resource development projects across the country. The prime minister expressed hope that this partnership would continue to expand in line with Pakistan’s development priorities and reform agenda.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz conveyed his condolences to the government and people of Japan over the recent earthquake, expressing solidarity with those affected. The gesture reflected the enduring goodwill and close friendship that have characterized Pakistan-Japan relations for decades, as both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation for mutual benefit.
