Malaysian PM
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim completed his three-day state visit to Pakistan on Friday, emphasizing the “great personal significance” of the trip.
Upon his arrival on Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed him and later saw him off at the airport, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, other federal cabinet members, and senior officials.
During his visit, Prime Minister Ibrahim, accompanied by a high-level delegation that included ministers, deputy ministers, and senior officials, engaged in productive discussions aimed at enhancing bilateral ties.
He held a one-on-one meeting with PM Shehbaz Sharif and led delegation-level talks, which culminated in a significant dialogue with President Asif Ali Zardari.
Following the visit, Ibrahim took to his X timeline to share that the “engagements with my counterpart Shehbaz Sharif and President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, alongside discussions with industry representatives, resulted in productive outcomes encompassing a wide array of mutual interests.”
The discussions reflected a strong commitment from both countries’ leadership to bolster relations. During the visit, both sides signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at enhancing cooperation in various sectors.
Notably, Pakistan committed to exporting halal meat worth $200 million and 100,000 tonnes of Basmati rice to Malaysia. Ibrahim underscored the intention to increase collaboration across diverse areas such as trade and agricultural technology, including the imports of meat, rice, and palm oil by Pakistan.
Additionally, the two countries plan to expand cooperation in skilled labor sectors, particularly in crucial fields like artificial intelligence (AI), digital technology, and semiconductors.
In another post on X, Prime Minister Ibrahim expressed that the state visit held great importance for him and his delegation, citing the long-standing friendship between the two nations over the past 67 years.
During the visit, he was conferred the Nishan-i-Pakistan award by President Zardari in a special ceremony, alongside receiving an honorary PhD from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), where he delivered a public lecture.
Following the visit, PM Shehbaz reiterated the commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations, stating that this visit would mark the beginning of a new era of cooperation between Pakistan and Malaysia.
He highlighted the positive outcomes of the Pakistan-Malaysia Business Forum, emphasizing that increased bilateral trade would not only boost exports but also create job opportunities.
Shehbaz noted that both countries signed MoUs to promote trade and investment, with Pakistan poised to enhance its processed meat and rice exports to Malaysia while ensuring smoother processes for these trades.
He also mentioned the two nations’ agreement to enhance cooperation in IT, the manufacturing of electric vehicles, and other trade initiatives.
Furthermore, he remarked on Ibrahim’s admiration for Allama Muhammad Iqbal, a sentiment that resonated as a point of pride for Pakistan. In closing, Shehbaz extended gratitude to Prime Minister Ibrahim for his good wishes towards the government and the people of Pakistan.
