ISLAMABAD, The Government of Japan has bestowed the Foreign Minister’s Commendations for FY 2023 upon Mr. Muhammad Shafiq ur Rehman, President of Milestone Society for the Special Persons. This award recognizes his substantial contributions to fostering mutual understanding between Japan and Pakistan.

According to Embassy of Japan in Pakistan, the commendation ceremony was conducted on December 4, 2023, by H.E. Wada Mitsuhiro, the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, at the Ambassador’s official residence in Islamabad. Mr. Muhammad Shafiq ur Rehman, a wheelchair user himself, has shown remarkable leadership in working for people with disabilities in Pakistan, enhancing their opportunities.

Mr. Rehman has collaborated with the Sakura Wheelchair Project, importing used wheelchairs from Japan to distribute them to wheelchair users in Pakistan, thereby creating a strong connection between the special persons in both countries. Additionally, he founded the Milestone Society for the Special Persons and, with the support of the Japanese Government in 2018, established a special education self-support training center for persons with disabilities in Lahore, significantly improving their living standards.

H.E. Wada Mitsuhiro, in his address, commended Mr. Rehman’s efforts in promoting understanding between Japan and Pakistan and expressed hopes for his continued success and the further mutual understanding and cooperation between the people of the two nations.