Japan announces ¥322m human resource development scholarship

ISLAMABAD: The Japanese government announced ¥322 million in aid grant for the human resource development scholarship (JDS) programme in Pakistan, said a press release issued on Thursday.

Notes to this effect were signed and exchanged between Yusuke Shindo, Charge d’ Affaires, at the embassy of Japan in Pakistan and Economic Affairs Division (EAD) Secretary, Noor Ahmed, the press release said.

A grant agreement on the details of implementation of the project for fiscal year 2019 was also signed by Shigeki Furuta, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and EAD Joint Secretary Adil Akbar Khan.

This programme for Pakistan was introduced for the first time in 2018. The objective of JDS is to strengthen the administrative capacities of the Pakistani government by providing the opportunity to obtain the master and doctor of philosophy degree to the capable government officers, who are involved in formulation and implementation of social and economic development of the country.

The JDS programme is designed to accept four batches of students to Japan in consecutive four years. First batch consisting of 18 civil servants will leave Pakistan for Japan next month. The target fields of JDS are public administration and finance, energy policy, industrial promotion, investment climate and trade, agriculture, water resource and rural development and disaster management.

“We believe human resource development, especially that of young civil servants, is key to the development of Pakistan… Japan will continue to contribute for the prosperous future of Pakistan, Shindo told the signing ceremony. “We will also continue to support the education sector in Pakistan, which we believe, is the key sector in Pakistan’s development.”

Furuta added that this programme would make a significant contribution towards human resource development in Pakistan, as the JDS fellows would be expected to take an important leading role in the government.

“JDS fellows will gain knowledge, which will be useful for policy planning and implementation. The effectiveness of the government will directly affect the development of Pakistan and welfare of the people,” Furuta said. “The project aims to strengthen the partnership between both the countries.”