On Thursday, the Government of Japan announced a generous grant aid of 315 million Japanese Yen, equivalent to approximately $2.25 million, for the Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) programme in Pakistan.
The signing of the Exchange of Notes for this programme took place between Charge D’affaires and interim of Japan to Pakistan, ITO Takeshi, and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Muhammad Humair Karim.
The objective of the JDS programme is to support Pakistan’s social and economic development by providing government officials with the opportunity to pursue Master’s or Doctoral degrees in Japan. By enhancing their knowledge in public administration, the programme aims to strengthen the bilateral relationship between Japan and Pakistan.
Participants of the JDS programme, who play active roles in policy formulation and implementation, will enroll in partner universities in Japan. This not only allows them to gain further expertise in their respective fields but also provides them with an understanding of Japanese culture and traditions.
Since its launch in Pakistan in 2018, the JDS programme has witnessed the successful completion of degrees by 31 government officials, while 35 are currently pursuing their academic goals in Japan. Furthermore, an additional 18 officials will be dispatched to Japan in the middle of 2023.
The signing of the sixth batch of the programme in Pakistan marks a significant milestone, offering 17 seats for the Master’s degree and one seat for the Doctoral degree.
During the ceremony, KINOSHITA Yasumitsu, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Pakistan Office, emphasized the value of JDS in nurturing talent, promoting intellectual growth, and enabling young government officials to reach their full potential.
Takeshi highlighted Japan’s understanding of the importance of social and human capital development in Pakistan. He emphasized that responsive and accountable public administration is a crucial facilitator for the country’s development.