The technical and financial assistance provided by Japan, particularly through Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) has a positive impact on development in the social sector and contributed to the success of Pakistan's reform agenda, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said. Talking to Atsushi Hatakenaka, Senior Vice President, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Prime Minister appreciated JICA-Pakistan's role as a bridge between people of Pakistan and Japan to promote cooperation based on exchange of knowledge and experience, said an official statement. Aziz said Pakistan, which was in dire straits seven years ago, is fast emerging as a model of economic reforms in the developing world. Liberalization, deregulation and privatisation, the Prime Minister said, were the corner stones of our reform agenda. "That coupled with improved and transparent procedures is attracting record foreign investments from all parts of the world, which is a testimony of trust and vote of confidence by the international community in our policies." --MORE
