PML-N government has strong economic focus :Ahsan Iqbal

Lahore: PML-N government has strong economic focus and has undertaken structural economic reforms, which is attracting interest of international community in Pakistan.

Government of Japan has invited Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Reform on a three day official visit as guest of Japanese government, to be Chief Guest at “Pakistan Infrastructure Conference” on 5 December in Tokyo in which leading Japanese companies will participate to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan.

Prof Ahsan Iqbal arrived in Tokyo today and was received by special representative of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Pakistan’s Ambassador in Japan. Prof. Iqbal will have a hectic schedule and meet business and government leaders to discuss bilateral issues and present new government’s policies.

On December 4 (Wednesday), the Federal Minister will hold talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr. Taro Aso, and State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Ms. Midori Matsushima.  He will also have a meeting with Mr.Teruo Asada, Chairman, Japan-Pakistan Business Co-operation Committee (JPBCC) (Chairman, Marubeni) at Tokyo Chamber of Commerce & Industry (TCCI) HQ.

The Federal Minister will also meet JPBCC member companies on this occasion.  Later in the day, he would be interviewed by Asahi and Nikkei newspapers of Japan.  Prof. Takashi Shiraishi, President, the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) is also scheduled to meet Prof. Ahsan Iqbal in the afternoon.

On December 5 (Thursday), Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Reform is scheduled to meet Mr. Hideto Nakahara, Exective Vice President, Mitsubishi Corporation & other officials of Mitsubishi Corporation.  The Minister will also hold meeting with Mr. Mamoru Mouri, Chief Executive Director (former astronaut), National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation.  

In the afternoon, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal will deliver his keynote speech at “Pakistan Infrastructure Conference”, organized by JETRO, Japan.  The Federal Minister will also meet Mr. Akihiko Tanaka, President, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) later in the day.

On December 6 (Friday), Prof. Ahsan Iqbal will visit J-Power Isogo Ultra Super Critical Coal-fired Power Plant & related energy/environment technology [Isogo, Yokohama City].  In the afternoon, he will hold talks with Tsukasa Nakaoka, Higher Education Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Aoyama Gakuin Senior High School, Prof. Shigemochi Hirashima, Professor Emeritus, Meiji-Gakuin University (Sitara-i-Quaid-Azam for Pakistan Study), and Ambassador Makio Miyagawa, Special Representative for Afghanistan & Pakistan, MoFA.