LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif arrived at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on Sunday to a warm reception from senior Japanese government officials and members of the diplomatic corps, according to a handout issued by the information department here. Pakistan’s Ambassador to Japan Abdul Hameed welcomed the chief minister and members of her delegation on arrival. A good number of overseas Pakistanis residing in Japan were also present at the airport, waving flags and chanting slogans to greet the first-ever woman chief minister of Punjab on her official visit to Japan.
Earlier, on the first leg of her foreign tour, the chief minister arrived in Bangkok where she was welcomed by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Thailand Rukhsana Afzal and senior Thai government officials. Maryam Nawaz Sharif is undertaking a five-day visit to Japan on the special invitation of the Japanese government. During her stay, she will hold meetings with senior Japanese officials to discuss bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, technology and development. The chief minister will also visit Tokyo, Osaka and Yokohama, where she is scheduled to meet representatives of Japanese institutions and attend the World Expo in Osaka.
Officials said the visit is aimed at strengthening economic ties, encouraging Japanese investment in Punjab, and exploring opportunities in areas such as clean energy, modern agriculture, infrastructure, education and technology transfer.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif is the first woman chief minister of Punjab to pay an official visit to Japan. Her delegation includes Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister for Information and Culture Azma Zahid Bokhari, Provincial Ministers Malik Sohaib Bherth and Zeeshan Rafique, and Special Assistant to CM Sania Ashiq.
Her official engagements in Japan are expected to open new avenues of cooperation between Punjab and Japan, particularly in investment and development projects, officials said
CM orders cut in transport fares after reduction in diesel price
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the authorities to immediately reduce transport fares in line with the recent cut in diesel prices, terming it the right of the people and warning that exploitation of commuters will not be tolerated. The chief minister ordered that the revised fares be prominently displayed and instructed district administrations and the transport department to take strict action against transporters who fail to comply with the official fare notification across the province.