- August 11, 2026
- Posted by: Tresmark
- Category:
The Government of Pakistan and Japan have signed a JPY 350 million (approximately $2.2 million) grant agreement to support the Japan Development Scholarship (JDS) Program 2026, aimed at strengthening human resource capacity in Pakistan’s public sector.
The agreement was signed on August 11, 2026, during a ceremony at the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Secretary Muhammad Humair Karim and Japan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, H.E. Akamatsu Shuichi, signed the Record of Discussions and Exchange of Notes, while Senior Joint Secretary Miran Mohiyuddin Soomro and JICA Pakistan Chief Representative Yusuke Shinozaki signed the grant agreement.
The latest grant marks the ninth phase of the JDS programme since its launch in Pakistan in 2018. Under the 2026 programme, 16 scholarships will be offered for master’s degrees and one for a PhD/doctoral programme at leading Japanese universities to young Federal Civil Service and ex-cadre officers.
Since the programme began, eight batches comprising around 17–18 participants each have benefited from JDS scholarships. The initiative is designed to enhance the professional capabilities of young government officials and strengthen their contribution to Pakistan’s socio-economic development.
Japan, through JICA, also regularly provides Pakistani government officials with opportunities to attend short-term training programmes in Japan.
Japanese Ambassador Akamatsu Shuichi and JICA Pakistan Chief Representative Yusuke Shinozaki reaffirmed their commitment to working with the Government of Pakistan to further strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries.
