PRESS RELEASE N0: JPNEMPAK 08-026           

Islamabad: 8^th August, 2008

The eighth of August 2008 marked an important and auspicious day in the history of the Japan-Pakistan cultural relationship when, on behalf of Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Foreign Minister of Japan, Mr. Seiji Kojima, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, conferred the Japanese Foreign Minister’s  Commendations to Syed Ijlal Haider Zaidi, President of Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association (PJCA) Islamabad, and Hafiz S.A. Rehman, Senior Vice President and the founding member of Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association (PJCA) Islamabad. The commendation award ceremony was held at the Embassy of Japan on Friday 8^th August, 2008.

Syed Ijlal Haider Zaidi and Hafiz S.A. Rehman have worked selflessly and with full dedication to promote Japan-Pakistan cultural relations, and the Government of Japan greatly values their services in this connection. As a token of appreciation, on behalf of the Foreign Minister of Japan, Ambassador Kojima conferred commendations to both of them. 

Syed Ijlal Haider Zaidi was elected as the President of the Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association (PJCA), Islamabad in 1992. Under his dynamic leadership, PJCA Islamabad along with its other chapters in Pakistan has been acting as a bridge of friendship and goodwill between the people of Japan and those of Pakistan.  

Hafiz S.A. Rehman, Senior Vice President of PJCA is a renowned lawyer and senior advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He is the pioneer of PJCA Islamabad to which he laid the foundation stone in 1971.  

Ambassador Kojima while speaking on the occasion highly eulogized the services rendered by the two PJCA personalities. He congratulated them on receiving this commendation award given in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the promotion of friendship and goodwill between the peoples of Japan and Pakistan. (End)