Pakistan and Malaysia on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in trade, education, technology, and governance, as Kuala Lumpur announced plans to import $200 million worth of halal meat from Pakistan.
The announcement came during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s three-day official visit to Malaysia, where he held extensive talks with his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, on expanding bilateral relations.
Speaking at a joint press conference at the Perdana Putra Complex, Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed gratitude to the Malaysian leadership and people for their warm hospitality, calling Malaysia “a second home.” He lauded Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s vision and leadership, describing him as “a leader of remarkable qualities,” and said their discussions were highly constructive.
Welcoming Malaysia’s decision to import halal meat worth $200 million from Pakistan, Shehbaz said the trade will continue to expand over time. He also emphasized Pakistan’s interest in pursuing joint ventures and partnerships to benefit from Malaysia’s industrial and technological expertise.“A large number of Pakistani students are currently studying in Malaysia, and we deeply appreciate the opportunities provided to them,” he noted.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, in his remarks, underscored the importance of peace between Pakistan and India for regional stability. “Peace between Pakistan and India is vital for our region,” he said, assuring that Malaysia would extend all possible cooperation to combat terrorism.
In a symbolic gesture of goodwill, PM Shehbaz praised Anwar Ibrahim’s newly launched book, describing it as “a bridge between Islamabad and Kuala Lumpur.” He expressed confidence that his visit would further deepen ties between the two brotherly nations.
Later, the two sides signed six memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to enhance bilateral cooperation across various sectors, including education, tourism, Halal certification, governance, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
The accords were signed at a formal ceremony at the Perdana Putra Complex, witnessed by both prime ministers following their delegation-level talks. Among the agreements signed, both countries inked a series of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to enhance collaboration across key sectors. These included an MoU between Malaysia’s Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) and Pakistan’s Foreign Service Academy for cooperation in diplomat training, exchanged by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Malaysian Foreign Minister Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan.
Another MoU focused on promoting tourism, signed by Malaysia’s Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing and Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. The two sides also signed an MoU on Halal certification, exchanged by Malaysian Minister Dr. Haji Mohd Na’im Bin Haji Mokhtar and Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, and another on combating and preventing corruption between the two governments. Additionally, an MoU was concluded between Pakistan’s Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and Malaysia’s Small and Medium Enterprises Corporation to strengthen cooperation in the development of small and medium enterprises. Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz was received with a guard of honour at the Perdana Putra Complex. The national anthems of both countries were played as the two leaders stood on the salute dais before introducing their respective delegations.
The prime minister is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi. The visit was arranged at the invitation of the Malaysian premier.
Upon his arrival at Kuala Lumpur’s Bunga Raya International Airport on Sunday night, Shehbaz Sharif was warmly received by Malaysia’s Minister of Communications Fahmi Fadzil, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, and diplomatic officials.
