LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday was briefed about the Japanese government methods being carried out for clean water, sewerage, waste water treatment, environmental improvement and saving the people from toxic carbon.

She visited the historic port city of Yokohama to ascertain how Japan transformed this coastal industrial city into a modern industrial hub. She sought information from the perspective of modernising Lahore and other industrial cities of Punjab.

She also visited the ancient “Red Brick Warehouse” and inspected a centre for teaching skills to the working class children. She also attended a major event of the Pakistani community in Japan.

The CM visited the headquarters of Honda Company in Tokyo. She met its Executive Vice President Noriya Kayahara. Matters pertaining to enhancing strategic cooperation between the Punjab government and Honda Company, local production and assembling of electric vehicles were discussed.

Explores waste treatment options; offers free land to investors in tax-free zones

They agreed to benefit from the experiences of Japan, especially Honda, to make the youth skilled in this sector.

The CM told him about the establishment of an EV depot for 1,500 electric buses by the Punjab government in collaboration with the private sector. She said Punjab has a great potential to become the largest market for electric vehicles.

During the second day of her five days visit to Japan, Maryam visited the National Centre for Global Health, Japan’s world-renowned hospital for treatment of infectious diseases.

She said she would introduce the Japanese healthcare and health management system in Punjab.

“Modern high-tech Japanese machinery, equipment and treatment methods will be used in the public sector health system of Punjab. We will also introduce health insurance method in Punjab like Japan,” she said.

She also spoke to Japanese medical experts, and was briefed about liver treatment in the National Centre for Global Health Medicine. She got impressed and agreed to benefit from Japanese research for the treatment of diabetes, liver and infectious diseases in Punjab.

She also invited Japanese investors and companies to manufacture and assemble products in Punjab. Japanese investors should invest in Punjab’s Special Economic Zones as the Punjab government would provide them free land in tax-free zones.

“Punjab is a big market from which Japanese investors can benefit. Japanese companies should build IT parks in Nawaz Sharif IT City,” she said.

“Punjab can become a manufacturing hub for Middle East and Africa,” said Maryam in her meeting with Norihiko Ishiguro, Chairman of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), who welcomed her visit to Japan. She invited JETRO to start joint venture projects with private and public sector companies of Punjab.

She briefed the JETRO head about various lucrative investment opportunities in Punjab. She stressed the need for increasing business to business contacts between Japan and Punjab.

“We want to take Punjab to the heights of technology on the model of Japan, and Punjab can provide surgical instruments, leather products and sports equipment to Japan. Punjab is interested in increasing the volume of export of fine basmati rice to Japan.”

Meanwhile, the CM held a meeting with Japan’s Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs H.E Matsuo Takehiko at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Commerce in Tokyo. Matters pertaining to introducing Japanese technology in the sectors of transport, agriculture, industry, environment, public health, and IT in Punjab were discussed.

She invited Japan to manufacture and assemble hydrogen and hybrid cars in Punjab.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2025