Mr. Ali Javed, Charge`d’Affaires a.i. was received by HE Mr. Toshio SHIMIZU, Mayor of Iwaki City (Fukushima Prefecture) at Iwaki City Hall on the afternoon of February 12th, 2014. The Mayor was assisted by City Government Officials while Mr. Javed was supported by two members of the Pakistani Community as well as Mr. Sawai Shirou, Principal of a local High School in Iwaki City.
The meeting was marked by mutual sentiments of fraternity and friendship and extended beyond the scheduled half hour. Mr. Javed congratulated the Mayor on his recent election and recalled that the first city to be visited by the current Ambassador of Pakistan upon resumption of his duties was Fukushima. Therefore, his own first visit to Fukushima was in same spirit.
Charge` d’Affaires a.i., praised the bilateral relations and while recalling the constructive meeting between the two Prime Ministers on margins of United Nations General Assembly, New York on 26.9.2013, observed that the historic democratic transition in Pakistan ensuing from May 2013 election had already started to yield tangible dividends for both sides. He termed 2014 as an important year in Pakistan-Japan bilateral relations.
Stating that Pakistan held a rich Human Resource in the field, Charge`d’Affaires a.i., requested the Mayor to consider hiring of Assistant Teachers from Pakistan to teach English at the local Schools. The proposal was supported by Mr. Sawai. Additionally, while observing that in a bid to provide all Muslim residents and visitors with a central place of worship and reunion, Charge` d’Affaires a.i., requested the Mayor to accord necessary permission to the proposal led by Pakistani community to establish a Mosque in Iwaki City. Community member from Iwaki city Raja Sabir briefed the Mayor on the stated initiative while Rana Ibrar briefed him on Interfaith Harmony.
Community members also shared their vision and desire to celebrating a day of friendship between Pakistani Community and People of Fukushima. In this regard, the Charge` d’Affaires a.i., stated that a Pakistan - Japan Friendship Festival was tentatively being planned for April 26-27, 2014 in Tokyo. While extending the Mayor an invitation to the said Event as Special Guest, he suggested that a similar one-day Event could be organized in Iwaki City to mark Pakistan-Fukushima Friendship.
The Mayor thanked the Charge` d’Affaires a.i., for his visit and extended his gratitude to Pakistani Community for assistance during Tsunami Earthquake of March 2011. Welcoming and appreciating the proposal, the Mayor stated that Pakistan-Fukushima Friendship Festival would receive full support from his Office and could be planned during September 2014. On the proposals for establishment of a Mosque and hiring of English teachers, the Mayor stated that he and officials from his Office had noted down the requests and shall consider them duly.
Embassy of Pakistan - Tokyo,
February 13, 2014.