Pak, Malaysia Vow to Deepen Economic, Strategic Cooperation

News Desk 

Putrajaya: Pakistan and Malaysia have reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthen bilateral cooperation, with a particular focus on expanding trade and economic ties. The renewed resolve came during a comprehensive meeting between Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and his Malaysian counterpart, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, held at Perdana Putra in Putrajaya on Monday.

Both leaders expressed satisfaction over the steady progress in bilateral relations since Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Pakistan last year.

The two sides held detailed discussions covering the entire spectrum of their relationship and agreed to explore new avenues of collaboration in diverse sectors including information technology, telecommunications, the Halal industry, automotive manufacturing, green energy, electrical and electronic production, tourism, higher education, climate change, and agriculture.

A key outcome of the talks was Malaysia’s decision to enhance the import quota of Halal meat from Pakistan to US$200 million, reflecting growing trade cooperation. Both sides also welcomed the increase in Pakistan’s rice exports to Malaysia, which have already surpassed the agreed quota.

During the meeting, the two leaders exchanged views on major regional and international developments, including the situation in the Middle East.

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Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim commended Pakistan’s constructive efforts in advancing peace in Palestine, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s principled stance on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and thanked Malaysia for its consistent support at international forums.

The two Prime Ministers underscored the importance of closer cooperation at multilateral platforms such as the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to address the complex challenges confronting the Muslim world. They also discussed strengthening Pakistan’s engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Congratulating Malaysia on assuming the ASEAN Chairmanship, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude for Malaysia’s reaffirmed support for Pakistan’s bid to become a full dialogue partner of the regional bloc.

During the visit, both countries signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering cooperation in the fields of diplomat training, higher education, tourism, Halal certification, anti-corruption initiatives, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

A notable highlight of the occasion was the joint launch of the Urdu translation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s book “SCRIPT”, which outlines his vision of leadership grounded in sustainability, mutual respect, innovation, and compassion.

Addressing a joint press conference after the talks, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described his meeting with the Malaysian counterpart as “highly productive,” noting that both nations share converging views on almost all key issues. He emphasized Pakistan’s interest in learning from Malaysia’s advancements in technology, artificial intelligence, and economic growth, and expressed readiness to pursue joint ventures for mutual prosperity.

Welcoming Malaysia’s decision to import $200 million worth of Pakistani Halal meat, Shehbaz Sharif assured that Pakistan would fulfill all related requirements.

Praising Anwar Ibrahim’s visionary leadership, he said the Malaysian Prime Minister’s “SCRIPT” serves as a guiding framework for progress and prosperity.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim lauded the historic brotherly relations between Pakistan and Malaysia, reaffirming their joint aspiration to enhance cooperation across all sectors.

He highlighted Malaysia’s increased imports of Pakistani rice and its intent to further facilitate beef imports, while stressing the importance of collaboration in emerging technologies.

The visit concluded with a special luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in honor of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation, following an official welcome ceremony and delegation-level talks.

Both sides agreed to remain in close consultation to follow up on the decisions made during the visit and to continue coordinating their positions on major international issues.