ISLAMABAD, Aug 05 (Alliance News): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday welcomed the technical cooperation of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Pakistan’s minerals sector, describing the development of the sector as one of the government’s top priorities.
The prime minister was speaking during a meeting with a nine-member JICA delegation led by its President Tanaka Akihiko, which called on him at the Prime Minister’s House.
Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan highly values its longstanding partnership with Japan and JICA, which spans more than seven decades, and expressed confidence that Dr. Tanaka’s visit would further strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.
The prime minister said Pakistan had successfully overcome significant economic challenges through collective efforts and was now moving ahead with wide-ranging reforms aimed at achieving sustainable economic growth.
He noted that the government’s reform agenda had resulted in a doubling of public revenues over the past three years.
Highlighting the government’s priorities, the prime minister said special emphasis was being placed on equipping young people with modern skills, expanding technical and vocational training, creating dignified employment opportunities and empowering women.
He said reforms in the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) had transformed it into a more effective institution for promoting small and medium-sized enterprises, adding that JICA’s collaboration with SMEDA would help boost SME growth and increase Pakistan’s exports.
The prime minister also conveyed his condolences to the people of Japan over the loss of lives in the recent earthquake.
Dr. Tanaka thanked the prime minister for his message of condolence and said JICA and Pakistan shared a long history of friendship and development cooperation.
He reaffirmed JICA’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Pakistan in key sectors, including health, education, urban and rural development, vocational and technical training, industrial development and the minerals sector.
Dr. Tanaka said future cooperation would be aligned with the development priorities of Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments.
He also appreciated Pakistan’s efforts under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to promote peace and stability in the Middle East.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Khan Cheema, Musadik Masood Malik, Hanif Abbasi, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Special Assistants to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi and Haroon Akhtar Khan, along with senior government officials.
