Pakistan and Japan deepen development partnership through JICA cooperation

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) led by President Dr Tanaka Akihiko, highlighting the long‑standing partnership between Pakistan and Japan. The talks covered expanded technical cooperation in the minerals sector, support for the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), and broader collaboration in health, education, urban and rural development, vocational training and industrial growth.

JICA, which has provided about US$11.7 billion in aid over seven decades, agreed to focus on infrastructure projects such as a feasibility study and possible co‑financing of the Main Line‑1 (ML‑1) railway, as well as upgrading internet connectivity in rural areas and other digital‑economy initiatives. The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s reform agenda, noting doubled public revenues and a focus on skills development, youth employment and women’s empowerment.