HYDERABAD: Sindh University (SU) Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Fateh Mohammad Burfat has said that Pakistan-Japan friendship goes a long way as both countries share cultural commonalities despite linguistic variations.

Pluralism, respect for relations, compassion, sensitivity, respect for elders, love for one another, loyalty and care for honour remained the hallmarks of Japanese society, he said while speaking at a one-day international conference on the ‘Post-War Economic Development of Japan: Learning Areas for Pakistan’ organised by SU Area Study Centre Far East and South East Asia in collaboration with Japanese consulate Karachi and Pakistan-Japan Intellect Forum.

Japanese Consul General (CG) in Karachi Toshikazu Isomura was the chief guest.

Two keynote speakers were Iqbal Burma, president of the Pakistan Japan Intellect Forum, and SU Prof Dr Hamadullah Kakepoto. VC Burfat said that 68pc of Japanese people worked in services sector, treating work as worship.

“What has brought Japan to the zenith of success, development and prosperity is their tenacity, perseverance, commitment, love for land and unprecedented loyal work ethics,” he asserted.

Mr Isomura said that Japan had virtually been devastated in 1945 after World War II, but like a phoenix it rose to its current economic height. “There were five secrets behind Japanese socio-economic resurrection ie spirit, hard work, education, technology and good luck,” the CG said.

He said that “Japan will happily continue its help, support and cooperation to Pakistan’s higher education institutions, especially Sindh University.”

Noted Pakistan-Japan affairs researcher and keynote speaker Iqbal Burma, in his paper ‘Role of Japanese Management System in Post-War Development of Japan: Learning Areas for Pakistan’s Corporate Sector’ said that management system was premised on four fundamental facets — collectivism, cultural affinity, Confucianism and educational ethos.

Prof Dr Hamadullah Kakepoto in his paper on ‘Socio-Cultural Relations of Pakistan and Japan’ presented an analysis of Pakistan-Japan ways of life, spotlighting similarities and prospects of building upon those synergies.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2020