Islamabad (GNP): The Government of Japan and UNICEF reaffirmed their long-standing partnership focused on protecting children’s rights in Pakistan, highlighting decades of collaboration between the two. Japan ranks among UNICEF’s longest-standing and largest global partners.
In Pakistan, this partnership has supported children and families across areas including health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation, and child protection.
The two have jointly responded to major emergencies and contributed to Pakistan’s ongoing polio eradication efforts, while continuing to invest in strengthening systems that improve children’s lives.
Following the devastating 2022 floods, Japan contributed $6.48 million to support UNICEF’s emergency response in some of the hardest-hit areas of Sindh and Balochistan, helping vulnerable families access clean water, sanitation, healthcare, and nutrition support as communities worked to recover and build resilience against future disasters.
Remarks from Japanese Ambassador
Japan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Akamatsu Shuichi, described the Japan-UNICEF partnership as one of the most enduring in international development cooperation, built over decades on the shared belief that every child deserves a fair chance at a healthy and dignified life regardless of where they are born.
He noted that Japan’s foreign policy is grounded in the conviction that human development — particularly children’s wellbeing — is a true measure of progress.
The ambassador also highlighted Japan’s sustained commitment to polio eradication, supporting vaccination campaigns that have reached millions of children in some of Pakistan’s most remote regions.
UNICEF’s Response
Sharmeela Rasool, Acting UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, said Japan has remained a consistent partner for children in Pakistan for decades, supporting emergency response efforts, essential services, and long-term development that has helped millions of children survive and thrive.
She said the partnership is focused not only on meeting immediate needs but also on building stronger, more resilient systems to support children’s wellbeing for years to come.
Also read: 𝑷𝒂𝒌, 𝑲𝒂𝒛𝒂𝒌hstan 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒄 𝑪𝒐𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝑴𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑬𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
Japan’s continued investment is helping ensure that essential services for children remain available during and after emergencies, supporting both urgent humanitarian needs and longer-term recovery efforts that benefit children and families over the long run.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
