History of relations between
Pakistan and Japan dates back to the post World War-II period when devastated
Japan was trying to emerge from the ashes of war. Pakistan itself being in state
of infancy, extended a friendship hand to Japan and played a substantial role
during its testing times (1947 to 1951). Like a friend indeed, it not only
reached out various fields to animate them but tried a level best in restoration
of Japan’s sovereignty. Pakistan unlike many other Asian countries forbore from
engaging Japan in reparation of war and aimed at building its economy by putting
down a foundation of bilateral economic relations.
Among first few countries, Pakistan was ahead of United States who signed
Japanese peace treaty. Both the nations established steady diplomatic relations
in 1952 just ten days after the ratification of Japanese peace treaty. At that
time, however, trade liaison offices in Karachi and Japan were already working
since 1948 long before the sovereignty of Japan was countenanced by allied
powers. Japan signed its first ever foreign trade accord with Pakistan in 1948
after World War-II. After United State, Pakistan was the largest trade partner
of Japan in 1950s mainly exporting raw material, jute and cotton to Japan.
Within the first decade almost 50 multinational companies of Japan had
established their offices in Pakistan for trade purposes. Japan due to its
advance textile technology instituted spindles to Pakistan that fostered
production of textile sector. During 1952-53, Japan faced acute shortage of
food. Pakistan shipped 60,000 tons of rice each of these years that portrays
Pakistani concern over Japan’s affairs. Reciprocating to Pakistan’s national
sentiments Japan proved one of the major bilateral partners to Pakistan,
exserting assistance in multidimensional arenas of development.
Stimulated by an ordinary yearning to endorse and further strengthen the
relations between the two countries, the Japanese and the Pakistani governments
signed a cultural agreement in 1957. According to the agreement, it was decided
that both the countries would provide each other with every possible facility to
guarantee improved considerate of the culture of their respective countries,
particularly, by means of books, periodicals and other publications, lectures,
concerts and theatrical performances, art exhibitions and cultural films. Under
this agreement, both the countries have pioneered several projects and conducted
several activities for strengthening the cultural ties between them. In May
1957, Japanese Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi undertook official visit to
Pakistan which was also marked as first ever visit from a Japanese premier.
Pakistan also bucked up Japan to first constitute diplomatic relations with all
Asian countries before establishment of Asian Development Bank. In 1960s,
Pakistan got a meridian position in Japanese pursuit to channelize its
assistance to the Asian region and rest of developing world. In November 1961,
Japanese Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda visited Pakistan as part of his Asian tours
and proffered a loan of 20 million yen to Pakistan.
Even as Japan was recuperating from the backwash of World War-II, struggling to
establish friendly relations with Asian nations, Pakistan was trying to lay down
itself as a new nation by fortifying ties with many advanced nations like Japan.
This actually paved the way to start an important economic relation, as the
Official Development Assistance (ODA) program was launched by Japan in 1961of
which Pakistan was a major recipient. The initial aid was 20 million dollars in
1961 and Pakistan swiftly reached up to 80 percent of the total ODA
disbursements by 1964. The assistance was aimed at to be utilized primarily for
mega projects and industrialization. Still, Japan is one of the largest trading
partners of Pakistan with an annual trade more than 4.5 billion US dollars.
Various significant development projects were also commenced by Japan during
different time period including the Indus Highway and the Kohat Tunnel, known as
symbol of Pak-Japan friendship with provision of soft loan of 80 billion rupees.
A 10 billion rupees grant for Polio Eradication Program in 1996, 11 billion yen
grant to Pakistan Institute of Medical Science, technical assistance to
establish telephone exchanges throughout Pakistan, assistance to construct the
Thermal Power Station Jamshoro and Bin Qasim Thermal Power Station, the
Construction of Machinery Training Centre and innumerable other projects in the
social sectors under Japanese assistance program have been carried out in recent
past. Several agreements were signed that include the International Postal Money
Order Exchange Agreement, the Pakistan-Japan Agreement regarding Establishment
of a Telecommunication Research Centre, and the Pakistan-Japan Plan of Operation
for Engineering and Economic Survey for Development of a New Ocean Port at Pitti
Creek. Since 1954, in total 5792 Pakistani trainees have been sent to Japan by
JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency). Even today, Japan is still the
third largest OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
established in 1960) donor to Pakistan after USA and UK. The total amount of aid
received by Pakistan from Japan up till now is 1278 billion rupees.
A declaration was signed on April 30, 2005 that states both the countries would
encourage leadership role in various areas and adhered to continue holding
dialogues on politics and security. Japan in all time has patronized Pakistan’s
endeavors to corroborate democratic norms to promote social and economic
development. In this connection, Friends of Democratic Pakistan Ministerial
Meeting and the Pakistan Donors Conference in Tokyo in April 2009 were hosted by
Japan.
In 2010, while Pakistan faced countrywide catastrophic flood, Japan plied for
the flood relief and rehabilitation travails which include Self-Defense Force,
helicopter and medical teams. Pakistan on its side has always demonstrated its
suasion and good-will gestures to the Japanese people. For instance in the
consequences of ruinous earthquake and Tsunami, Pakistan expressed its
solidarity and support to the government and the people of Japan in letter and
spirit. Pakistan also turned to lend a greater hand by providing Japan two C-130
aircraft carrying relief goods.
Pakistan is pursuing to develop economic and trade cooperation with Japan and
pursuing major energy companies to invest in Pakistan. Prime Minister Mian Nawaz
Sharif visited Japan in September 2013 and in meeting with his Japanese
counterpart Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sought Japan’s help to overcome energy
crises in Pakistan.
Todan, Japan is the third largest economy of the world and its total import is
more than USD 500 billion. While Pakistan the first trading partner of Japan in
post-war period today only constitutes 0.05 (?) in Japanese imports. Pakistan
under the leadership of recent government is focusing on to offer a Special
Economic Zone in Pakistan with attractive package which includes benefits of
sole ownership, tax exemption and compensation of earning and single window
operations. For this purpose Pakistani Finance Minister visited Japan in January
2015 and tried to mobilize Pakistan’s Special Economic Zone Plan for Japanese
investors during a delegation level talk held by Pak Japan Business Forum and
Japan Pakistan Business Cooperation Committee in Tokyo.
In order to sustain multi-purpose task including political, economic and
cultural cooperation dialogues, Pakistan and Japan have also established
Parliamentary Friendship Group. Stimulating the objectives of Cultural Exchange
Agreement signed in 1957, Pakistan Japan Cultural Association (PJCA) has been
established with offices in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar.
Hundreds of Pakistani students, researchers, artists and journalists are
benefited through this cultural exchange.
Japan being the world's third-largest economy, having achieved remarkable growth
in second half of the 20th Century is a partner of Pakistan. However, the trade
volume between the two countries is far below the potential. Despite having
immense prospects of growth, the trade balance remains in the favor of Japan. It
is high time for the two countries to focus on broadening the scope of mutual
cooperation by extending it to the areas of trade, investment, energy and
infrastructure development including all other sectors of interest. To make
progress for active engagements of the Japan and Pakistan Trade ministries which
could act as resource base for exchanging information. Exchange of trade
delegations and holding of joint trade exhibitions would also help in promoting
bilateral trade.