TOKYO, Aug 20: Japan’s Senior State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Miyaji Takuma, has lauded the Punjab government for launching more than 120 development projects across the province, terming them a “progressive step towards socio-economic uplift.”

He expressed these views during a high-level meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif in Tokyo on Wednesday. The meeting was aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and exploring new avenues of cooperation between Japan and Punjab in the fields of technology, infrastructure, education, and public welfare.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, while acknowledging Japan’s remarkable achievements in economic modernization, technological advancement, and social development, said that Punjab looked forward to adopting Japan’s best practices in governance and development planning. “Japan’s story of resilience and progress is an inspiration for nations like ours. We are committed to replicating elements of Japan’s model in Punjab to ensure sustainable growth, transparency, and inclusive development,” she said.

She expressed gratitude to the Japanese government and people for their longstanding support to Pakistan in areas such as health, disaster management, human resource development, and infrastructure. She added that Punjab was keen on further expanding cooperation with Japan in renewable energy, urban planning, agriculture technology, and information technology to uplift communities and create new opportunities for the youth.

Minister Miyaji Takuma reiterated Japan’s commitment to continue its development assistance to Pakistan and highlighted the potential of Punjab as a strong partner in the region. He stressed that Japan valued its historical relations with Pakistan and sought to strengthen collaboration in both government and private sectors.

The meeting concluded with an agreement to enhance people-to-people exchanges, promote cultural ties, and encourage Japanese investment in Punjab’s industrial zones and special economic hubs.