TAXILA: The Japanese Ambassador Akamatsu Shuichi on Wednesday said that Tokyo remained committed to strengthening bilateral economic relations, expanding development cooperation marking over seven decades of partnership, and enhancing people-to-people ties with Islamabad.

He expressed these views while talking to newsmen at Taxila Museum on Wednesday.

Ambassador Shuichi added that Japan has worked closely with Pakistan for decades to address basic human needs in health, education, and infrastructure development.

Ambassador Akamatsu highlighted the seven decades of diplomatic and economic relations between Pakistan and Japan, noting that Japanese investment in Pakistan has now surpassed $1.3 billion, in automotive, energy, textiles, daily goods, and IT sectors.

Earlier, Ambassador Akamatsu Shuichi through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has handed over modern exhibition and conservation equipment to the Taxila Museum under a grant assistance project aimed at strengthening the museum’s preservation and display capacity.

The project, titled “Improvement of Equipment for Exhibition and Conservation of the Taxila Museum,” was implemented with Japanese grant assistance amounting to 48.8 million yen, reaffirming Japan’s long-standing support for the protection of Pakistan’s rich cultural and archaeological heritage.

According to JICA’s project plan, the grant will fund necessary equipment for preserving excavated objects and collections, upgrading exhibition infrastructure, supporting digital preservation and awareness tools including dehumidifiers, storage systems, temperature control equipment, lighting systems, and software for digital documentation.

Addressing the ceremony, Ambassador Akamatsu Shuichi highlighted the historical and spiritual significance of Taxila as a major centre of the Gandhara civilisation and noted its deep cultural links with Japan. He expressed the hope that the initiative would pave the way for enhanced bilateral cooperation, particularly in the field of archaeology.

The ambassador also underscored Japan’s desire to continue efforts inspired by the vision of Dr Satoshi Naiki, a renowned Gandhara expert from Aichi Prefectural University, to revive archaeological missions in Pakistan for the discovery, preservation and promotion of Gandhara heritage.

Chief of the JICA Pakistan Office Mr. Miyataalso addressed on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2026