6 The Times Tuesday, August 14, 2012 第３種郵便物認可 Pakistan independence day Sixtieth anniversary of friendly Pakistan-Japan relations

Noor Muhammad Jadmani partner. The Joint Statement on Ambassador of Pakistan Japan-Pakistan Comprehensive Partnership signed during Presi- Today marks the 65th anniver- dent Zardari’s visit to in sary of the independence of February 2011 sets forth the fu- Pakistan. sixty-five years ago the ture directions of Pakistan-Japan birth of Pakistan relations. Pakistan welcomes Jap- epitomized the anese friends to explore the full successful cul- potential of Pakistan’s resources. mination of a At present, 69 Japanese com- long and ardu- panies are involved in numer- ous struggle by ous businesses in Pakistan. the Muslims of Apart from a strong presence in the south asian the automobile sector, Japanese subcontinent for companies are actively involved a homeland of their own under in the trading, banking, power, the inspiring leadership of Quaid- construction and services sec- e-Azam Muhammad ali Jinnah. tors. Japan has undertaken ma- Each year, this day is celebrated jor projects in Pakistan that have with great zeal and fervor within President of Pakistan Asif Ali Prime Minister of Pakistan played important roles in the the country and all over the world. Zardari Raja Pervez Ashraf socioeconomic development of This year, the historic occasion Pakistan. Kohat Tunnel in Khy- has an even more special signifi- The founder of Pakistan Oxus is one of the oldest civili- Presently, there is a wide-ranging ber Pakhtunkhwa, also known cance for us in Japan as we are Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad zations in the world. The great and sustained cooperation be- as the Pak-Japan Friendship Tun- celebrating 60th anniversary of Ali Jinnah Buddhist civilization began its tween our two friendly countries. nel, is one of the landmarks of the establishment of diplomatic outward journey from Pakistan. The high-level contacts between our friendship. Japan also helps relations between our two coun- The people of Pakistan draw Many renowned emissaries who the two countries have augment- Pakistan with improving roads, tries. On this auspicious occasion their ancestral roots from the came to Japan and other coun- ed this relationship. President power transmission lines and Amicable relations: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is greeted by Emperor Akihito during his I express on my own behalf and ancient civilizations that inhab- tries carrying the teachings of the Asif Ali Zardari’s two visits to Ja- grid stations all over the country. official visit to Japan in February 2011. Embassy of Pakistan on behalf of my compatriots in ited the land of today’s Pakistan. Buddha were graduates of Taxila pan, first in 2009 and the other in With a domestic consumer Japan our respectful and sincere The archeological and cultural University. This ancient heritage 2011, and our foreign minister’s market of more than 180 million, rice. The agriculture sector offers in leather, surgical instruments, communities devastated by last greetings to Their Imperial Majes- remains from Mohenjodaro, provides a historical underpin- two subsequent visits, includ- i.e., sixth largest in the world, huge businesses potential for fish and shrimp farming, gems year’s triple tragedy of the Great ties Emperor Akihito and Empress Harappa and Taxila testify to ning to Pakistan-Japan ties. ing participation in the Tokyo flanked by the 2 billion-plus collaboration between Pakistan and jewelry sectors. East Japan Earthquake. All Paki- Michiko, members of the Imperial the acumen and wisdom of in- A multidimensional relation- Conference on afghanistan, re- consumer markets and in close and Japan. As 2012 marks the 60th anni- stani members joined Miyamo- family, Prime Minister Yoshihiko habitants of this land. The Indus ship between Pakistan and Ja- flect the significance of Japan for proximity to Middle Eastern and Owing to the increasing en- versary of our bilateral relations, ri’s prayers for an early, speedy Noda, the government and the Valley civilization that existed pan has evolved since the estab- Pakistan as a sincere friend and Central asian markets, Pakistan ergy needs of a growing society, a number of events have been and strong recovery and rehabili- friendly people of Japan. between the rivers Indus and lishment of formal ties in 1952. a major development and trade provides an ideal location for stra- Pakistan is now exploring solar planned and undertaken in both tation of affected areas in Japan. tegic investments into the heart of and wind energy alternatives. countries. As part of the celebra- To promote better under- the emerging growth hub of the With abundant sunshine and ex- tion, in May this year, both coun- standing between the two peo- future. Investing in Pakistan today cellent wind corridors, there is a tries launched in Japan ples, a two-day Pakistan Bazaar is investing into the future. huge potential to tap these clean in Sano, . The displaying Pakistani culture, cui- Pakistan is blessed with all the and efficient sources of energy. Pakistan women’s cricket team sine, costumes and music was essential and precious minerals Pakistan’s huge coal reserves of visited Japan and played friendly held at yoyogi Park in March. such as gold, copper, iron ore, 186 billion tons await the right matches with the Japan women’s Similarly, a two-day Pakistan- chromites and zinc, besides 50 kind of gasification technology cricket team. Japan Friendship Bazaar was other metallic and non-metallic for conversion into a massive In July, the Pakistan-Japan held in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, minerals. Pakistani rock salt source of energy. Joint Karakoram Friendship Ex- in May. It was aimed at bring- is world-famous for its health The textile bond between pedition led by 80-year-old Tsu- ing life and festivity back to the and cosmetic effects. Besides Pakistan and Japan is no secret. neo Miyamori from Fukushima Ibaraki area. Similar bazaars are abundant natural resources and Pakistan has a very strong tex- Prefecture, scaled two unex- being planned in other cities all mineral deposits, Pakistan has tile base. The fabric and textile plored heights above 6,000 me- over Japan. all the credentials to become products are now touching new ters in the Shimshal Karakoram Finally, I wish to thank The a breadbasket for the region heights by advancing into high- range. On the recommendation Japan Times to have kindly and beyond. globally, Pakistan tech products. This sector offers of the expedition members, the brought out this special supple- ranks fourth in cotton produc- tremendous potential for collab- newly scaled 6,105-meter-high ment and acknowledge those tion, fourth in milk, fifth in on- oration between the two sides. mountain peak has been named friends who have supported it in ions, sixth in mangoes, eighth in Similarly, there is a vast scope of the “Peak of Hope” in honor of this endeavor to mark the Inde- wheat, 10th in sugar and 11th in mutually beneficial collaboration the efforts to rebuild the Tohoku pendence Day of Pakistan. Sightseeing: Pakistan is home to various tourist attractions, such as Mohenjodaro of the ancient Indus Valley civilization in southeast Pakistan and Lake Saiful Muluk in the northwest of the country. Embassy of Pakistan

PAGE: 6 第３種郵便物認可 The Japan Times Tuesday, August 14, 2012 7 Pakistan independence day Bilateral ties foster mutual understanding

Seishiro Eto was hit by the largest earth- President, Japan-Pakistan quake in our recorded history, Parliamentarians’ Friendship followed by a gigantic tsunami, League; Vice Speaker, House of which claimed numerous lives. Representatives I am truly grateful for the warm support extended to us by the On behalf of the Japan-Pakistan government and people of Paki- Parliamentarians’ Friendship stan. We will never forget your League, I send kindness and friendship. our most sin- Pakistan, like Japan, has cere congratu- suffered from many natural lations to the disasters, such as the large government and earthquake in 2005 and the ter- people of the Is- rible floods last year. Nature is so lamic Republic powerful, but we must face its of Pakistan on fury, and I hope that by working the auspicious together, we can develop coun- occasion of the 65th anniversary tries that can surmount natural of their country’s independence. disasters. This year marks the 60th an- I sincerely hope that starting niversary of diplomatic relations from this anniversary year, new between the Islamic Republic of chapters will continue to be add- Pakistan and Japan and I have ed to the history of our countries long waited for this auspicious and our bilateral relationship by year. I have learned that various further stimulating exchanges commemorative events have in a wide range of areas includ- been planned and are being held ing culture, academic fields and in cities in our countries. I wish Strengthening ties: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar meets her Japanese sports. all success to the events, hoping counterpart, Koichiro Genba, in Tokyo during her official visit in May. embassy of Pakistan To this end, I am determined, that they will contribute toward as president of the league, to ex- the further strengthening of bi- of close ties between our coun- on their love for their country Indus Valley civilization, typi- ert all efforts toward the further lateral ties. tries and the future promotion of and with foresight for the sake of fied by the remains of the cities fostering of mutual understand- When Pakistan’s Foreign our friendship. their country and people. I ex- at Mohenjodaro and Harappa, ing and friendship between Paki- Minister Hina Rabbani Khar On Aug. 1, I also had a meet- press my deep respect to them Gandhara art, a fusion of the an- stan and Japan. visited Japan in May this year, I ing with Palwasha Khan, par- for their achievements, and I am cient greek culture in the West Again, expressing my most had the honor and pleasure to liamentary secretary for foreign confident that they will continue and Buddhist art in the East, and sincere congratulations on the welcome her and dine with her, affairs, in my office within the to display leadership in this field. K2, the world’s second highest occasion of Pakistan’s Indepen- along with other members of Diet building. I was impressed For the people of Japan, Paki- mountain, next to only Mount dence day, I close by offering the league. We had an active ex- with their way of conducting stan is a country of their dreams. Everest. best wishes for your country’s change of views on the 60 years diplomacy, which was based Widely known in Japan are the On March 11 last year, Japan prosperity. High expectations for Pakistan draw heavy Japanese investment

Teruo Asada much earlier era when Buddhist Chairman, Japan-Pakistan missionaries from the Gandhara business cooperation committee region came to Japan to spread their faith. On behalf of the Japan and Pakistan’s relations Japan-Pakistan have remained cordial despite Business Coop- numerous and significant chang- eration Com- es at the global and regional lev- mittee, I would els. during the decades of the like to extend 1950s and 1960s, Pakistan was my sincere and a major trading partner of Ja- heartfelt con- pan, while Japan was the biggest gratulations to buyer of Pakistani cotton yarn the people of the Islamic Repub- and raw cotton. Pakistan, in re- lic of Pakistan on the occasion of turn, imported large quantities Cooperation: Constructed with Japanese assistance, the 1.9-km long Kohat Tunnel, also known their Independence day. Japan of Japanese spindles to boost its as the Pak-Japan Friendship Tunnel, serves as a shorter, alternate route to the Kohat Pass in the and Pakistan have completed 60 textile industry. northwest frontier of the country. embassy of Pakistan years of diplomatic relations as Japanese and foreign com- of this year. However, the peo- panies have high expectations resources. For example, Japan’s attraction for foreign direct in- In the days ahead, Japanese ple-to-people contacts between for Pakistan, which possesses automobile industry has invest- vestment in different sectors of companies’ further efforts to the two countries date back to a tremendous strength in human ed heavily in Pakistan over the the economy and offers remark- make use of such strengths of- past 60 years. Large Japanese able opportunities for foreign fered by Pakistan will contrib- automobile companies such as investors. sectors of particular ute to the economies of both Toyota, Honda and Suzuki have interest include, but are not lim- nations. set up industrial units in Paki- ited to, agriculture, energy and In closing, I would like to stan, creating job opportuni- petrochemicals. Moreover, Paki- again offer our congratulations ties for highly skilled and semi- stan is located in close proximity and reiterate our firm belief in skilled laborers. Moreover, these to the landlocked Central Asian Pakistan’s economic and social companies impart training to republics and can function as a potential. In the future, the Ja- younger Pakistanis involved with hub for the oil-rich Middle East. pan-Pakistan Business Coopera- these organizations. International business activity tion Committee will continue to In addition, Pakistan’s ideal can serve as a path for exporting work for further ties between our geographic location is also an oil to the world. two countries.

PA