The success of our 70th anniversary photo exhibition!

JICA held ODA 70th anniversary photo exihibtion event from December 6th to 8th in Islamabad. We invited about 60 guests for the opening event on the first day including Dr. Niaz, secretary of Economic Affairs Division of Pakistan, and Mr. Takano, Charge'd affair of Embassy of Japan in Pakistan. On the weekend, we had more than 600 visitors and we introduced 70 years JICA's cooperation in Pakistan.
Detail is below;

1. Overview:
(1) Event Name: ODA 70th Anniversary Photo Exhibition
(2) Dates: December 6, 2024 (Friday) 14:30-17:00 (Opening Event)
December 7 (Saturday) and December 8 (Sunday) 10:00-16:00 (Public Photo Exhibition)

2. Background and Purpose:
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of ODA, a photo exhibition showcasing major JICA projects was held to raise awareness of the achievements of past cooperation. An opening event was also held, inviting Pakistani government agencies involved in JICA projects, donors, and other stakeholders. The opening event aimed to foster relationships for future cooperation and enhance recognition of project achievements through media coverage.

3. Content:
(1) December 6 - Opening Event:
Approximately 60 participants, including donors, JICA project counterparts, and Japanese stakeholders, attended. After opening remarks by JICA Chief representative Mr. Miyata, speeches were given by Dr. Niaz, Secretary of Economic Affairs Division and Mr. Takano, Charge'd affair of the Embassy of Japan in Pakistan. A 10-minute video summarizing JICA's contributions across various sectors was shown to enhance participants' understanding. Following this, three JICA project stakeholders shared their experiences and expressed gratitude to JICA:

1. Mr. Kamal, former Chairman of the Federal Flood Commission and a member of the Pakistani delegation at the 2015 Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, who received the JICA President Award.
2. Ms. Shazia, a graduate of the first batch of the JDS, scholarship program and a Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce.
3. Ms. Asia,Teacher of ALP (Accelerated Learning Program) Middle Tech Program under Allama Iqbal Open University

The event concluded with a traditional dance performance by JICA staff.

(2) December 7 and 8 - Public Photo Exhibition:
The public photo exhibition recorded approximately 600 visitors over the weekend. JICA staff provided explanations of the photos to Japanese stakeholders, Pakistani citizens, and students. Many visitors, especially younger ones, were surprised and grateful for the long-term support in various fields, despite not being familiar with JICA or Japan. Children from regions like Punjab expressed a desire for educational and health projects in their areas, while women and female students highlighted the importance of support for women's empowerment, a significant issue in Pakistan.