Exploring the world: Pakistani youth delegation to visit Japan

JENESYS programme to benefit youth of all SAARC countries

A delegation of seven Pakistani high school students along with their supervisor and four young men working in the energy sector will be visiting Japan at the invitation of the Government of Japan from February 5 to February 14 2017 under the “Japan-SAARC Network Program of People-to-People Exchange (JENESYS).

A total of 96 young people from SAARC member states, 12 from each, who are expected to play an active and important role in the various fields in future will participate in this short term Japanese government programme.

JENESYS is a youth exchange programme between Japan and SAARC countries initiated to reaffirm and strengthen mutual trust and understanding among the people of Japan and participating countries.

This programme also aims to promote the participants capacity building in a manner that would be conducive to the development of the SAARC member countries.

Ambassador of Japan Takashi Kurai handed over travel documents to the selected youth from Pakistan at an orientation ceremony held at the Embassy of Japan. Ambassador Kurai while speaking to the students said that the People-to-People exchange programme is a very good platform to bring the people of two countries further closer.

Under this programme, participants will be given opportunities to deepen their understanding on Japan’s cutting-edge high technologies and its support for local and creative industries, experience Japan’s traditional culture, and communicate with local people. The students will also get an opportunity to visit the energy sector to observe how Japan is efficiently meeting its energy needs while protecting its nature and environment. This programme is expected to develop mutual understanding among the youth in Japan and SAARC countries.

Under the JENESYS programme announced by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, 77 Pakistani high school and university students were sent to Japan in 2013 whereas 82 students visited Japan in 2014. From January to March 2016, 28 young Pakistanis visited Japan under the programme.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2017.