Masaru Hattori, the Consul General of Japan in Karachi, addressed participants of the 43rd Mid-Career Management Course (MCMC) at the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
The session, held at the NIPA Auditorium, brought together officers from various public sector organizations and autonomous bodies.
Hattori highlighted the critical role of discipline, innovation, and strategic policymaking in Japan’s post-World War II recovery and transformation into a global economic power.
“Japan improved international competitiveness by adapting, internalizing, and enhancing innovative technologies,” he noted.
“As business globalized, appropriate policies for foreign capital introduction became necessary.
” He emphasized human capital as central to Japan’s development model.
“Lifetime employment and seniority-based promotion increased worker loyalty and fostered a culture of diligence.
Companies conducted in-house training and OJT (On-the-Job Training) to foster long-term development,” he said.
Reflecting on Japan’s post-war revival, Hattori attributed much of the progress to a cultural foundation of discipline rooted in tradition and spiritual values.
“It was this culture of discipline and technological advancement that helped rebuild Japan’s economy after World War II,” he said.
During the Q&A session, Hattori candidly addressed Japan’s current demographic challenges, acknowledging, “This is a serious concern.
The average age in Japan is now 50, and the government is designing forward-looking policies to address this demographic challenge.”
On the topic of China’s dominance in the Electric Vehicle (EV) sector, he said, “Japan is actively working on this challenge.
Companies like Toyota are leading the way with innovative EV technologies to maintain global competitiveness. ” Director General NIPA, Dr.
Saif Ur Rehman, also addressed the gathering, praising Japan’s model of disciplined innovation.
“Japan is a shining example of how visionary leadership, combined with hard work and innovation, enabled a war-torn country to become a global leader in technology—producing world-class products like televisions, electronics, automobiles, and industrial machinery,” he remarked.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks and the presentation of a memento to the Japanese Consul General.
The session served as a powerful reminder of how national progress can be driven by thoughtful policy, institutional discipline, and continuous investment in human capital.
