Pakistan and Malaysia signed a raft of agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) after Prime Ministers Shehbaz Sharif and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim held officials talks in Putrajaya on Monday, with both sides eyeing immense potential to deepen partnership in defence sector, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Both prime ministers vowed to deepen bilateral cooperation across various sectors, including trade, education, Halal certification, and anti-corruption efforts, with Malaysia announcing to import $200 million worth of Halal meat from Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim, following their “very productive” discussions at their meeting and delegation-level talks, told a joint press stakeout that their deliberations encompassed bilateral cooperation as well as international issues including the Israel’s oppression in Gaza.
Prime Minister Shehbaz, who is on his first visit to Malaysia, said that Pakistan desired to join hands with Malaysia to learn from its expertise and pursue joint ventures and mutually beneficial projects as both sides could collaborate in areas agriculture, IT, and vocational and skills training, where Pakistan was doing “wonderfully well”.
Referring to huge number of students studying in each other’s countries, he called for harnessing this potential to make the two economies stronger and move forward in unison through win-win cooperation.
“You announced a quota of $200 million for meat exports from Pakistan to Malaysia. Let me assure our Malaysian importers and officials that this quota will be regulated by market price mechanisms and will fully comply with all Halal certification requirements set by Malaysian customs and food authorities. I guarantee that we will make every possible effort to meet all your conditions, ensuring not only that we achieve this $200 million quota but also that we surpass it with a quantum leap. When consumers are satisfied, the sky is the limit,” he remarked.
Shehbaz Sharif, who earlier presented Anwar Ibrahim with an Urdu version of his book “SCRIPT: For a Better Malaysia”, repeatedly spoke highly of his leadership skills marking compassion, kindness, outstanding courage, resilience, and patience with a sharp focus on building Malaysia as one of the strongest economies in the world.
He said the book’s translated version added another bridge between Pakistan and Malaysia as Anwar Ibrahim’s work was guiding framework for his Madani vision of sustainability, mutual respect, care, innovation, research and development, prosperity, and mutual trust.
He appreciated that last year, the works of Allama Iqbal—Shikwa Jawab-e-Shikwa, Asrar-e-Khudi, and The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam—were translated into Malay, emphasising that Iqbal’s philosophy called for self-realization and self-discovery and that nations were built not through magic wands but through hard work, tireless efforts, and unwavering commitment.
Expressing gratitude to the Malaysian government for “exceptionally warm” welcome to him and his delegation, the prime minister said that he would leave Malaysia – my second home – for Pakistan on Tuesday as far more informed and inspired of Malaysia’s development journey which Pakistan – a 240 million nation – also wanted to achieve.
He said that Pakistan would forge a great partnership with Malaysia to achieve shared goals as the country had infinite blessings from Allah, including minerals, water, brilliant minds, fertile land, and the will to succeed.
In his remarks, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that over the years, Pakistan and Malaysia had established strong ties in education, defence, and other fields, while continuously expanding economic cooperation.
He said in this era of geopolitical uncertainties, both sides saw immense potential to deepen partnership in defence, agriculture, digital technologies, energy, and emerging fields.
He said to strengthen bilateral economic ties, Malaysia would facilitate Pakistan’s interest to export meat to Malaysia and would do whatever was necessary to achieve these goals.
On regional issues, he emphasized that peace between Pakistan and India was vital for regional stability.
Appreciating Pakistan’s stance on Gaza, Anwar Ibrahim said both countries reaffirmed call for concrete action to end Gaza suffering. He said that Malaysia supported the 20-point peace initiative proposed by US President Donald Trump, while maintaining certain reservations on its framework.
He also appreciated the contributions of Pakistani professionals, skilled workers and students who had long been part of the Malaysian development landscape.
Expressing gratitude for the translation of his book, he said Malaysia had also undertaken the great work of translating the scholarly contributions of Allama Iqbal as his profound intellectual legacy continued to inspire them.
Six accords signed
Pakistan and Malaysia on Monday signed six accords to strengthen bilateral cooperation covering different areas including education, Halal certification, tourism and combating corruption.
The pre-signed documents were exchanged at a ceremony held at Perdana Putra Complex – Office of the Malaysian Prime Minister – during the three-day official visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Malaysia, at the invitation of his Malay counterpart Anwar Ibrahim.
Both the leaders witnessed the ceremony held after their meeting as well as the delegation level talks.
Pakistan and Malaysia signed an MoU on Exchange of Notes between the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) and the Foreign Service Academy of Pakistan on cooperation in the field of training for diplomats. The documents were exchanged by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Malaysian Foreign Minister Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan.
As MoU was signed between the governments of Malaysia and Pakistan on cooperation in the field of higher education and the documents were exchanged by Pakistan National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain and Malaysia’s Higher Education Minister Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir.
Minister of Tourism of Malaysia Tiong King Sing and Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar exchanged the documents of an MoU between the two governments for cooperation in the field of tourism.
The two sides signed an MoU on Halal Certification and the relevant documents were exchanged by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr. Haji Mohd Na’im Bin Haji Mokhtar and Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan.
Both countries inked an MoU to expand cooperation in combating and preventing corruption. The documents were exchanged by Chief Commissioner The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Azam Bin Baki and Deputy Chairman of National Accountability Bureau Sohail Nasir.
The sixth accord was meant to enhance cooperation between Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) Pakistan and Small and Medium Enterprises Corporation Malaysia. Chief Executive Officer SME Corporation Malaysia Rizal bin Dato’ Nainy and Special Assistant to PM Syed Tariq Fatemi exchanged the documents.
Welcome ceremony
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, who is on a three-day official visit to Malaysia, was accorded an official welcome at the Perdana Putra Complex. Shehbaz was received by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, followed by the playing of the national anthems of both countries. He then inspected a guard of honour mounted by three officers and 103 personnel from the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment (Ceremonial), led by Mejar Muhammad Akmal Hakim Sabarudin.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi; Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan; Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir; Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing; Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil; Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar; and Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
The ceremony was also attended by foreign diplomats, senior government officials and representatives from both nations’ ministries and agencies.
Shehbaz’s visit to Malaysia was at the invitation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and serves as a reciprocal gesture to Anwar’s official visit to Pakistan in October 2024, reflecting the deepening ties between the two nations.
After the ceremony, Shehbaz signed the guest book and then proceeded to a bilateral meeting with Anwar.
Following the elevation of bilateral ties to a strategic partnership in March 2019, Malaysia and Pakistan, which established diplomatic ties in 1957, recorded total trade of RM8.07 billion (US$1.76 billion) in 2024, marking a 25.5% increase from the previous year.
Malaysia’s main exports to Pakistan include palm oil, petroleum and chemical products, while imports from Pakistan comprise agricultural goods, textiles, apparel, footwear and petroleum products.
Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Malaysia Sunday for an official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries across multiple sectors.
Upon his arrival at Banga Raya International Airport, the Prime Minister was received by Malaysian Minister of Information and Communications Fehmi Fadzil, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, and members of the diplomatic staff. The Prime Minister was accorded royal protocol and taken to his official residence.
At the residence, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim personally welcomed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, extending warm greetings on behalf of his government and people.
“I am very happy to be in Malaysia and deeply appreciate the warm hospitality extended by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim,” Shehbaz said, adding that the visit would serve to “further strengthen Pakistan–Malaysia bilateral relations.”
The Pakistani delegation accompanying the Prime Minister includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi.