KARACHI, Aug 18: Mohammad Azmat (Shigeyuki) Ataka, adviser to the consul-general of Japan in Karachi, retired from service on Thursday. Mr Ataka, who had been serving on this very post since 1997, had joined the consulate as the assistant director of the Japan Cultural Centre in Karachi in November 1979. He did his masters in Political Science from the University of Karachi.

Mr Ataka, although a Japanese but fluent in Urdu, said that he had been trying as hard as possible in his capacity to further strengthen the friendly relations of Japan and Pakistan.

“I love Japan and Pakistan”, he remarked. Meanwhile, a reception was arranged in honour of Mr Ataka at the Japanese Consulate here on Wednesday to bid him farewell. The ceremony was attended by the consul-general of Japan in Karachi, Shoichi Nakano, and other members of the staff.—APP