Islamabad July 26, 2010: Ms. Misako Konno, the longest serving UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, well-known Japanese actress, TV personality and essayist visited Pakistan from 20th to 24th July 2010. The purpose of her visit to Pakistan was to meet with UNDP’s key stakeholders including government leaders, partners and project beneficiaries to promote Pakistan’s development agenda.
Welcoming the Goodwill Ambassador Mr. Toshihiro Tanaka, Country Director, UNDP Pakistan said “her visit is timely and very encouraging for the people of Pakistan as well as for humanitarian and development communities who have been engaged in the efforts to address multiple challenges on ground.” 
During her visit she met with Begum Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Issues, H.E. Mr. Chihiro Atsumi, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, Mr. Saeed Qureshi, Member, Board of Directors, Mahbub-ul Haq Human Development Centre and officials from Economic Affairs Division. She also met with members of Noor Citizen Community Board (CCB), Haripur and Mr. Daniyal Aziz, Chairman, Devolution Trust for Community Empowerment (DTCE ) and announced a donation for Noor Women Vocational Centre from income received from her recent book describing her experience as Goodwill Ambassador.
Ms. Konno visited Muzaffarbad, Pakistan Administered Kashmir and Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa and met with communities affected by earthquake, conflict and influx of refugees. She also visited various project sites of UNDP community initiatives including community physical infrastructure schemes, check dams and women development center. She appreciated the commitment of the communities towards their economic and social empowerment and the positive role of women in hard times and post-crisis situations. During her visit to Muzafrabad she met with H.E. Raja Zulqarian Khan, President, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and H.E. Raja Mohammad Farooq Haider Khan, Prime Minister, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. 
At the end of her visit, in an exclusive interview to PTV she said “Pakistan and its people are very hospitable, kind and peace loving. I wish to promote the positive image and real voices of Pakistani people in my home country, Japan.”
Japan is currently the third largest donor to Pakistan with ongoing assistance to Pakistan at US$1 billion in large-scale infrastructure transport, irrigation, health and education etc. The government of Japan is providing generous support to UNDP’s Sustainable Development through Peace Building, Governance and Economic Recovery Project in Malakand Division and Refugees Affected and Hosting Area Programme.
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For further information and media assistance, please contact,
Mehreen Saeed, Communication Analyst, Strategic Management Unit, UNDP Pakistan
UN House No. 12, Street 17, F-7/2 Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-8255650 or Email:
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Website: http://www.undp.org.pk
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UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners
