By Rehan Khan
ISLAMABAD, July 08 (APP): The Embassy of Japan in the federal capital, in partnership with the Nippon Foundation, donated 166 English-language books to COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Abbottabad Campus, as part of the global Read Japan Project in a move to enhance cultural and educational ties between Japan and Pakistan.
The books were formally handed over by the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, AKAMATSU Shuichi, to Prof Dr Shahid Khattak, Director of the COMSATS Abbottabad Campus, during a ceremony held at the university on Tuesday.
The donated collection encompasses a wide range of subjects including Japanese history, politics, economy, philosophy, literature, security, art, and culture. Carefully selected to support academic inquiry, the books will provide students, faculty, and researchers with deeper insights into various facets of Japanese society.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador AKAMATSU congratulated the students and faculty on receiving the valuable resource and emphasized the transformative power of books in fostering cross-cultural understanding.
“These books are more than just pages – they are bridges of knowledge and friendship between Japan and Pakistan,” he remarked. He also lauded COMSATS University for its continued contributions to youth education in Pakistan and its efforts to promote academic collaboration with Japan through cultural and educational exchanges.
In his address, Prof Dr Shahid Khattak expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Nippon Foundation and the Embassy of Japan, describing the book donation as a meaningful step toward intellectual growth and international cooperation.
“The opportunity to explore Japan through these books will not only broaden our students’ academic horizons but also help strengthen people-to-people connections and bilateral ties,” he said. Senior faculty members and deans attending the ceremony echoed similar sentiments, underscoring the significance of such initiatives in promoting global engagement.
The Read Japan Project, launched by the Nippon Foundation in 2008, seeks to promote greater understanding of Japan by donating English-language books on Japan-related themes to universities and libraries around the world.
