JICA and Pakistan agree to expand cooperation in infrastructure, digital transformation, tourism, education and sustainable economic growth.
Pakistan and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral development cooperation, with both sides agreeing to deepen collaboration in key sectors under the government’s URAAN Pakistan 5Es framework.
The renewed commitment was made during a meeting between Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Dr. Tanaka Akihiko in Islamabad on Wednesday.
The meeting focused on expanding the long-standing partnership between the two countries by identifying new opportunities for cooperation in infrastructure development, human resource development, digital transformation, tourism, education, disaster risk management, and sustainable economic growth.
Ahsan Iqbal welcomed the visiting JICA delegation and acknowledged Japan’s continued support through Official Development Assistance (ODA), describing Japan as one of Pakistan’s most reliable development partners.
He said Japanese cooperation has significantly contributed to Pakistan’s progress in sectors including energy, water resources, healthcare, agriculture, education and infrastructure over several decades.
The planning minister also highlighted Pakistan’s improving economic outlook, stating that the government has restored macroeconomic stability through fiscal reforms and prudent economic management under the IMF-supported programme.
According to him, the country’s public revenues have doubled during the past three years, allowing the government to pursue investment-led and sustainable economic growth while maintaining fiscal discipline.
During the discussion, Ahsan Iqbal briefed the JICA delegation on the URAAN Pakistan initiative, describing it as the country’s long-term national development strategy.
He explained that the framework is built around five strategic pillars: Exports, E-Pakistan, Environment and Climate Change, Energy and Infrastructure, and Equity and Empowerment.
The minister stressed that increasing exports remains central to Pakistan’s economic transformation, noting that sustained prosperity depends on building a stronger export-oriented economy.
He said the government is investing in modern infrastructure and regional connectivity to improve Pakistan’s global competitiveness and strengthen economic resilience.
Highlighting Pakistan’s youthful population, Ahsan Iqbal said nearly 60 percent of citizens are young, making investment in education, vocational training, technical skills and employment opportunities a national priority.
He also emphasized the importance of women’s economic empowerment for achieving inclusive and sustainable development.
To further enhance bilateral ties, the minister proposed establishing a Pakistan-Japan Gandhara Tourism Corridor aimed at promoting religious tourism, cultural exchanges and stronger people-to-people connections based on the shared Gandhara heritage of both countries.
He also welcomed Pakistan’s participation in the Productivity, Quality and Innovation (PQI) initiative and sought JICA’s technical support for its implementation in collaboration with the Japan Productivity Center. The minister further proposed creating a joint working group to identify practical projects under the initiative.
JICA President Dr. Tanaka Akihiko appreciated Pakistan’s recent economic reforms and improving macroeconomic stability, saying they provide a solid foundation for expanding future cooperation. He reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s long-term development goals.
Dr. Tanaka also agreed to establish a dedicated coordination mechanism involving technical workshops and regular consultations with JICA headquarters in Tokyo.
The initiative will help identify new high-impact projects aligned with the URAAN Pakistan 5Es framework while accelerating implementation in areas such as infrastructure, digital transformation, education, disaster risk management, tourism, SMEs and productivity enhancement.