On March 15th, I visited the Embassy of Pakistan in Japan in Tokyo and paid my respects to the newly appointed Counsellor for Trade and Investment, Mr. Mahdia Ali.
As you can see, she is a female Counsellor. When people think of Pakistan, they may have the image that there are limited opportunities for women to work; however, in reality, women’s participation in professional and leadership roles is progressing far more than commonly perceived.
In addition to requesting her cooperation for the April 25 event, we exchanged views on a wide range of topics. Ms. Madia Ali, the Counsellor, is an exceptionally sharp and intelligent professional. She was able to anticipate and understand my (the President’s) limited English, which allowed for a very smooth and productive discussion.