Pakistan and Japan have signed a grant agreement worth JPY 350 million, equivalent to approximately $2.2 million, to support the 2026 Human Resource Development Scholarship Program, known as JDS. The agreement marks the ninth installment of the scholarship initiative since it was launched in Pakistan in 2018. The latest arrangement is aimed at supporting the professional development of young Pakistani government officers through postgraduate education at prestigious Japanese universities. The agreement was formalized during a ceremonial exchange of notes and signing ceremony held at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, bringing together senior representatives of the Government of Pakistan, the Government of Japan and Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Muhammad Humair Karim, Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Akamatsu Shuichi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Pakistan, signed the Record of Discussions and Exchange of Notes during the ceremony. Separately, Miran Mohiyuddin Soomro, Senior Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Yusuke Shinozaki, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency Pakistan, signed the Grant Agreement. Senior officials representing the Embassy of Japan, Japan International Cooperation Agency and Ministry of Economic Affairs also attended the ceremony. The signing formally establishes the support for the 2026 scholarship intake and reflects the continued cooperation between Pakistan and Japan in the area of human resource development.
Under the 2026 grant, Japan will provide 17 scholarships through Japan International Cooperation Agency, with 16 scholarships allocated for Master’s degree programs and one scholarship designated for a PhD or Doctorate program. The scholarships will be offered at prestigious Japanese universities and are intended for young Federal Civil Service and Ex-Cadre officers of Pakistan. Through postgraduate education and academic exposure in Japan, the program provides selected government officials with an opportunity to pursue advanced studies while developing knowledge and professional capabilities relevant to their public service responsibilities. The latest batch continues a scholarship initiative that has focused on strengthening the capacity of government officers since its introduction in Pakistan.
Since the launch of the JDS initiative in 2018, eight batches have benefited from the scholarship program, with each batch comprising approximately 17 to 18 participants. The initiative has contributed to the professional capacity of young officers who are involved in areas relevant to Pakistan’s socio-economic development. In addition to the long-term scholarship program, Japan also regularly provides opportunities for Pakistani government officials to participate in short-term training courses in Japan. These programs form part of the broader cooperation between the two countries in human resource development and public sector capacity building, providing Pakistani officials with opportunities to gain further academic and professional exposure.
During the ceremony, Muhammad Humair Karim expressed gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for their continued support and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating further cooperation between the two countries. He also assured that the necessary facilitation would be provided to advance meaningful collaboration under the scholarship initiative. Akamatsu Shuichi and Yusuke Shinozaki reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with the Government of Pakistan to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation. With the signing of the JPY 350 million grant agreement, the 2026 JDS scholarship program will provide 17 Pakistani Federal Civil Service and Ex-Cadre officers with postgraduate study opportunities in Japan, continuing an initiative that has been operating in Pakistan since 2018.
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