In a major boost to education and public sector development, Japan has allocated $263 million in scholarships for Pakistani civil servants. The announcement came as part of a fresh agreement signed between the governments of Japan and Pakistan earlier this week.
The agreement was formalized by Dr. Kazim Niaz, Secretary of Economic Affairs, and the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan. Under the program, selected officers from Pakistan’s federal government will be sent to top Japanese universities to pursue Master’s degrees in key fields related to governance and public policy.
This initiative is part of the Human Resource Development Scholarship program, implemented in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). According to the Economic Affairs Division, the latest phase will send 16 federal employees to Japan for advanced studies.
Since its launch in 2018, the program has supported seven groups of Pakistani civil servants. Many of them have returned to serve in senior roles within the government, applying their international training to improve policymaking, project management, and public administration.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Kazim Niaz praised Japan’s ongoing commitment to Pakistan’s development. He said that these scholarships are not only a valuable investment in individuals, but also a contribution to the country’s long-term progress by enhancing institutional capacity.
Officials believe that such exchanges strengthen ties between the two countries while empowering professionals with the tools needed to bring meaningful change to Pakistan’s public sector.
The scholarship program reflects Japan’s broader support for Pakistan in areas such as education, human development, and governance reform. By enabling Pakistani civil servants to study in Japan, the initiative is helping to build a more skilled and globally connected leadership for the country’s future.
