Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim during his official visit to Malaysia, where the two leaders agreed to enhance bilateral trade and expand cooperation across multiple sectors.
The meeting took place at Perdana Putra in Putrajaya, where Prime Minister Sharif received a formal state welcome. A guard of honour was presented by the Malaysian armed forces, and national anthems of both countries were played.
Both leaders led their respective delegations in detailed talks, focusing on strengthening economic, trade, and strategic ties. Prime Minister Shehbaz thanked his Malaysian counterpart for the warm hospitality, saying Malaysia felt like his “second home.”
During their constructive and meaningful discussions, the two leaders reviewed progress made since Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Pakistan in October 2024 and expressed satisfaction over continued cooperation. They discussed enhancing collaboration in areas including information technology, halal industry, green energy, automotive, electronics, tourism, higher education, climate change, and agriculture.
Both sides agreed to increase Pakistan’s halal meat export quota to US$200 million, while also expressing satisfaction that rice exports from Pakistan to Malaysia have exceeded the set quota.
On regional and global issues, the Malaysian Prime Minister commended Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting peace in Palestine, acknowledging Islamabad’s diplomatic engagement following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent initiative.
The two leaders emphasized stronger cooperation through multilateral platforms such as the United Nations (UN) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed Malaysia’s support for the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN resolutions.
They also discussed strengthening Pakistan’s engagement with the ASEAN bloc. Prime Minister Shehbaz congratulated Malaysia on assuming the ASEAN chairmanship and thanked Anwar Ibrahim for supporting Pakistan’s bid for full dialogue partnership.
Pakistan and Malaysia signed several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) covering diplomatic training, tourism, halal certification, higher education, anti-corruption efforts, and the promotion of small and medium enterprises. Both leaders also attended the unveiling of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s book “The Script”, centered on leadership and governance.
Later, the Malaysian Prime Minister hosted a luncheon in honour of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation.
In a joint press conference, Anwar Ibrahim said both nations stand united against Israeli atrocities in Gaza and remain committed to regional peace. He noted that Pakistan-Malaysia relations have strengthened over time and cooperation against terrorism will continue.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his remarks, praised the enduring friendship between the two countries and welcomed Malaysia’s decision to import $200 million worth of halal meat from Pakistan, adding that the trade will further expand in the future.
He also praised “The Script” by Anwar Ibrahim as an intellectual and cultural bridge between Islamabad and Kuala Lumpur. The conference concluded with Shehbaz Sharif reciting verses of Allama Iqbal at Anwar Ibrahim’s request.
Earlier, addressing the Pakistan-Malaysia Business Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Prime Minister Shehbaz said that both countries enjoy strong relations and need to deepen cooperation in key sectors such as IT, electronics, oil and gas, and tourism. He urged Pakistani and Malaysian companies to collaborate in the tourism sector, highlighting Pakistan’s vast potential for investment and development.
