Japan honours Pakistani man for promoting mutual understanding

ISLAMABAD: The Japanese government has awarded “the Foreign Minister’s Commendations for FY 2023” to a special gentleman Muhammad Shafiq ur Rehman for promoting mutual understanding between Pakistan and Japan.

It has been announced by the Japanese embassy here Monday. The communication stated the Japanese government had awarded the Foreign Minister’s Commendations for the year 2023 to Muhammad Shafiq ur Rehman, President of Milestone Society for the Special Persons, in recognition of his significant contribution towards the promotion of mutual understanding between Japan and Pakistan.

The Japanese ambassador has conferred the Foreign Minister’s commendations for the incumbent year upon Muhammad Shafiq ur Rehman. The commendation ceremony was held at ambassador's official residence in Islamabad. Muhammad Shafiq ur Rehman, himself is a wheelchair user, and due to his strong leadership, he dedicated his sincere efforts to work for special persons in Pakistan to expand their opportunities. In collaboration with Sakura Wheelchair Project, he has been carrying used wheelchairs from Japan and distributing to wheelchair users in Pakistan. It is a great connection between the special persons in Pakistan and Japan. In addition, he has established a local NGO, Milestone Society for the Special Persons, and under grant assistance of the Japanese government in 2018, constructed a special education self-support training center for persons with disabilities in Lahore. He has been fully working to improve living standards of the persons with disability.

The ambassador, while speaking on the occasion, congratulated Muhammad Shafiq on receiving this prestigious commendation by his government. The ambassador appreciated his dedicated efforts to promote mutual understanding between Pakistan and Japan. He said, “I look forward to his continued success in the future, and I hope that his activities will inspire the further mutual understanding and cooperation between the people.” Diplomatic sources said that Japan has traditionally been providing commendable assistance to special persons as part of its activities in the sphere of charity. Japanese assistance has been disbursed here through official channels and several NGOs.