Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Secretary Aamir Hassan and Japan’s Ambassador Kuninori Matsuda signed a memorandum of cooperation, formally enabling Pakistani skilled workforce to enter Japan’s labour market.

The signing of the memorandum will open new avenues for Pakistanis to work in 14 Japanese sectors including construction, information technology, nursing, manufacturing, engineering and others. Kuninori Matsuda said Japan is facing a serious shortage of workers at the moment due to aging society and shrinking population.

He said that Japan is creating a new working visa regime as it expected to welcome up to 340,000 skilled workers from across the world including Pakistan. “I always feel happy to bring good news when it comes to Japan-Pakistan relations but today is special as the signing of the memorandum is definitely a big step in the promotion of relationship,” he said.

NETWORK OF JAPANESE: The ambassador said that this framework would not only provide job opportunities to many skilled Pakistanis but also create new vistas for robust bilateral cooperation. He said that mentioning education as one of another sector where Japan would facilitate Pakistan.

He said that the Japan Embassy would create a network of the Japanese language program in Pakistan that would eventually help the students in pursuing their education in Japan. The framework would also provide an opportunity for Japanese companies to make investments in Pakistan and vice versa, he said. He urged Pakistanis to learn the Japanese language to get maximum employment opportunities in his country.

EXPORT OF MANPOWER: Secretary Aamir Hassan said that Pakistan at present had sent only 1,600 Pakistani labour to Japan through Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment. He said that signing of this memorandum would formalize export of Pakistani manpower. Some 96 per cent of the manpower export of Pakistan is to the Gulf countries at the moment, he said.

However, the initiative would diversify the country’s manpower export as Japan is destined to be the potential market for Pakistani workforce. Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari said that this is a groundbreaking movement for Pakistan and Japan as the initiative would foster relations between two countries. He said that both the countries have similar culture and sublime values, especially towards the elderly.

SPECIAL AIDE’S STATEMENT: He said that the memorandum would definitely be a good omen for Pakistan as its 65 per cent of the population is below 35-year age. “We will provide you with our best quality workforce,” he said while requesting Japanese officials to ensure optimum care for Pakistanis in their country. He assured them that the ministry would focus on imparting the Japanese language to the manpower so as to send a maximum number of Pakistani labour to Japan.

Japan’s Special Adviser for Foreign Affairs Sonoura Kentaro said that Pakistan and Japan had established good relations for the last 70 years and Tokyo wished to further enhance ties with Islamabad. The event was also attended by Foreign Affairs Secretary Sohail Mahmood, Parliamentary Secretary Javeria Aheer and officials of the relevant ministries.