Japan is actively opening its doors to skilled Pakistani workers across high-demand sectors, including information technology, healthcare, construction, agriculture, and manufacturing.
In a high-profile stakeholders meeting held in Islamabad, top government officials and industry leaders from both countries discussed new pathways for employment, signaling Japan’s growing reliance on foreign talent to meet labor shortages—and Pakistan’s rising status as a source of qualified professionals.
The initiative to deepen workforce cooperation between Japan and Pakistan came at the Pakistan-Japan Human Resources Stakeholders Meeting, hosted by Japanese Ambassador Akamatsu Shuichi at his residence in Islamabad on May 2, 2025.
The high-level forum brought together around 70 key stakeholders from both public and private sectors of Japan and Pakistan, underscoring a shared commitment to deepen collaboration on human capital development and labor mobility.
The event saw participation from prominent Pakistani government figures, including Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima and Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Mohammad Awn Saqlain.
Leading organizations from both countries were represented, including Plus W, Proud Partners, Japan Pakistan Innovation Institute (JPII), Japan Station, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).
Speakers from JICA, JETRO, Plus W (celebrating its fifth anniversary), and OEC Pakistan provided updates on their respective efforts to scale labor mobility.
A notable moment during the meeting was when a Pakistani university student, fluent in both Japanese and English, shared their experience—highlighting the personal, cultural, and professional bridges being built through such collaborations.
Pakistani Professionals are a pillar of Pakistan-Japan relations
In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Akamatsu emphasized the growing importance of skilled Pakistani workers in Japan.
“I am confident that the success of Pakistani professionals in Japan is becoming one of the key pillars of the bilateral relations. Both Japanese and Pakistani Embassies remain committed to making contributions in this area. The evaluation of Pakistani talents in Japan is becoming higher and higher. Therefore, I expect that the demands for skilled Pakistani professionals will be expanding in the future,” he said.
He added that Pakistani remittances play a crucial role in Pakistan’s economy, and the skills gained in Japan would contribute to domestic industrial growth upon workers’ return.
He also referenced the ongoing Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025: “Among more than 160 participating countries, the Pakistan Pavilion, which is made of pink salts, is so popular among the visitors. I hope this pavilion attracts many Japanese people and arouses their interest towards Pakistan.”
The ambassador also encouraged Pakistani people to visit Japan on this occasion and experience the advanced and human-friendly technologies firsthand at the expo.
Pakistan ministers call for broader sectoral inclusion and innovation
Minister Salik Hussain highlighted the expanding cooperation between Pakistan and Japan, particularly through the Specified Skilled Workers (SSW) program: “The partnership between the Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) and PlusW now includes not just IT, but also healthcare, construction, agriculture, and manufacturing,” he noted.
IT Minister Shaza Fatima underscored the potential of Pakistan’s tech industry, pointing to recent successes during Japan IT Week (April 2025): “15 Pakistani IT companies secured contracts exceeding $600,000,” she stated, calling for further roadshows and a dedicated platform to match workforce supply with Japan’s industry needs.
She also advocated for the inclusion of IT and telecommunications in Japan’s JDS Scholarship Program.
The meeting concluded with a strong reaffirmation of mutual commitment to promoting sustainable and long-term collaboration in the areas of human capital development, cross-border employment, and educational exchange.
Both Japan and Pakistan see workforce development not only as an economic necessity but also as a critical driver of bilateral diplomacy, people-to-people ties, and shared prosperity in the region.