ISLAMABAD: Seeking to accelerate economic reforms, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday identified the development of the country’s minerals sector as a key priority and sought greater technical cooperation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Talking to a nine-member JICA delegation led by its President, Dr Tanaka Akihiko, the prime minister said Pakistan sought to deepen its longstanding partnership with the agency.
He said the government was keen to expand cooperation in support of economic reforms, skills development, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the mining sector.
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Sharif said Pakistan greatly valued its more than seven decades of partnership with Japan and JICA, and expressed the hope that Dr Akihiko’s visit would further strengthen bilateral ties.
He said the government had overcome difficult economic challenges through a coordinated effort and was now accelerating structural reforms aimed at achieving sustainable economic growth.
The prime minister said the reforms had led to a doubling of state revenues over the past three years.
He added that creating employment opportunities through skills development and technical training for young people, along with women’s economic empowerment, remained among the government’s foremost priorities.
Referring to reforms at the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), the prime minister said the organisation had been strengthened to improve its effectiveness, adding that closer cooperation between JICA and SMEDA would help promote SMEs and boost exports.
He also conveyed his condolences over the loss of life caused by the recent earthquake in Japan.
Dr Akihiko thanked the prime minister for his message of sympathy and expressed appreciation for the hospitality extended to the Japanese delegation during its visit to Pakistan.
He said JICA and Pakistan shared a longstanding partnership and that the agency was prepared to expand cooperation in healthcare, education, urban and rural development, technical and vocational training, and industrial development.
Dr Akihiko said JICA would further strengthen its cooperation in line with the development priorities of federal and provincial governments.
He also said Japan and the wider international community appreciated Pakistan’s efforts and leadership in promoting peace in the Middle East.
The meeting was attended by federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Cheema, Musadik Malik, Hanif Abbasi, Awais Leghari and Shaza Fatima, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar, and other senior officials.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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