Japan grants $2.63m for Pakistan’s 2025 JDS scholarships

July 16, 2025 (MLN): The government of Pakistan has signed a grant agreement with the government of Japan amounting to ¥379 million (approximately $2.63 million) to support the 2025 phase of the Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) programme.

This funding, extended through JICA, marks the eighth round of assistance under the JDS initiative launched in 2018, said a press release issued yesterday.

 The 2025 phase will offer 16 scholarships for master’s degrees and one PhD scholarship at top-ranked Japanese universities, aimed at young federal civil service and ex-cadre officers of Pakistan.

Since the programme's inception, seven batches, each consisting of nearly 18 participants, have benefited from these scholarships, significantly strengthening the professional capacity of officers contributing to Pakistan’s development goals.

In addition to the JDS, Japan continues to host Pakistani government officials for various short-term professional training programmes.

The official signing and exchange of notes ceremony took place at the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Dr Kazim Niaz, 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.

The grant agreement was signed by Miran Mohiyuddin Somroo, Senior Joint Secretary of the Ministry, and Naoaki Miyata, Chief Representative of JICA Pakistan.

Dr Kazim Niaz, Federal Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, expressed profound gratitude to the government and people of Japan for their unwavering support, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating effective bilateral cooperation.

Akamatsu Shuichi, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, and Naoaki Miyata, JICA Chief Representative, assured of their continued collaboration with the Government of Pakistan to further deepen the longstanding friendship and development partnership between the two countries.