Islamabad (GNP): JICA President Dr. Tanaka Akihiko met with Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal at the Ministry of Planning to discuss strengthening development cooperation between Pakistan and Japan, with a focus on infrastructure, human resource development, digital transformation, tourism, and sustainable growth.
Welcoming Dr. Tanaka, Iqbal expressed appreciation for Japan’s long-standing development assistance to Pakistan, commending JICA’s contributions across sectors including infrastructure, energy, water resources, health, and disaster risk management. He described Japan as one of Pakistan’s most reliable development partners over the decades.
Economic Update
Iqbal briefed the delegation on Pakistan’s improving economic outlook, highlighting the government’s efforts to restore macroeconomic stability through structural reforms under its IMF-supported program.
He said Pakistan had overcome significant economic challenges and was now on a path toward sustainable growth, noting that government revenues had doubled over the past three years as a result of ongoing reforms. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fiscal discipline and investment-driven economic growth.
URAAN Pakistan Framework
The minister outlined the government’s URAAN Pakistan initiative and its 5Es framework — covering exports, digital governance, environment and climate, energy and infrastructure, and equity and empowerment — as the country’s long-term roadmap for development.
He emphasized that export-led growth remains central to Pakistan’s economic strategy, noting that the country has historically struggled with low export growth and heavy reliance on imports.
He stressed that sustainable prosperity requires a strong export base rather than consumption-driven growth, and pointed to ongoing investment in infrastructure and regional connectivity as key to improving Pakistan’s export competitiveness.
Youth and Human Capital
Iqbal highlighted Pakistan’s demographic makeup, noting that nearly 60% of the population is young, describing this as the country’s greatest asset.
He said equipping young people with quality education, technical skills, and employment opportunities remains a top government priority, alongside efforts to advance women’s economic empowerment as part of broader inclusive development goals.
Proposed Areas of Cooperation
Iqbal proposed developing a Pakistan-Japan Gandhara Tourism Corridor, citing the centuries-old cultural ties between the two countries and the potential for expanding religious tourism and cultural exchange based on shared Gandhara heritage.
He also referenced Pakistan’s recent accession to the Productivity, Quality and Innovation (PQI) initiative, describing it as a tool to strengthen industrial competitiveness and support export growth.
He expressed hope that JICA would provide technical support for implementing the initiative in partnership with the Japan Productivity Center, and proposed forming a joint working group to develop specific collaborative projects.
JICA’s Response
Dr. Tanaka reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to strengthening its development partnership with Pakistan, noting that the country’s economic reforms and improving stability provide a strong foundation for future cooperation.
He emphasized the importance of close coordination between JICA and the Ministry of Planning to develop projects aligned with URAAN Pakistan, spanning areas such as human resource development, infrastructure, education, SMEs, digital transformation, and the PQI initiative.
He agreed to establish a dedicated coordination mechanism, including technical workshops and regular consultations with JICA’s Tokyo headquarters, to identify new areas of cooperation and accelerate project implementation. .
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Dr. Tanaka expressed JICA’s interest in renewing momentum in bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed Japan’s support for Pakistan’s sustainable and inclusive economic development.
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.
