PAKISTAN’S Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Malaysia on Sunday for a three-day official visit, signalling renewed momentum in the long-standing strategic partnership between the two countries.
The visit, at the invitation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, comes as both nations move to expand collaboration in emerging sectors such as the halal industry, education, tourism and defence.
Anwar described the visit as a reflection of “the strong bonds of friendship between the two nations”, noting that “various agendas have been arranged to explore new cooperation opportunities in areas such as trade and investment, the halal industry, education, tourism and defence, for the benefit of the people of both Malaysia and Pakistan.”
“This visit is a reciprocal one to my official trip to Pakistan in October 2024,” he said in a Facebook post. “May Malaysia–Pakistan relations continue to flourish and prosper in the future, Insya-Allah.”
Shehbaz was received at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 9.46 pm by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil before inspecting a guard of honour mounted by the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment.
According to Wisma Putra, Shehbaz is accompanied by several cabinet ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. He will be accorded an official welcoming ceremony in Putrajaya and will hold a bilateral meeting with Anwar, during which both leaders are expected to review the progress of bilateral ties and identify new areas for cooperation.
They will also exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual concern and witness the signing of five memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in tourism, higher education, halal certification, anti-corruption, and small and medium enterprises, along with an Exchange of Notes (EoN) on diplomatic training.
In a symbolic gesture, Shehbaz is also expected to present Anwar with the Urdu translation of Anwar’s book, ‘SCRIPT: For a Better Malaysia’. An official dinner will be hosted in Shehbaz’s honour at the Seri Perdana Complex.
Both leaders will also participate in the Pakistan–Malaysia Business and Investment Conference, which is expected to bring together some 400 business figures from both nations. According to Pakistan High Commissioner Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, the forum will serve as a key platform to “build partnerships, exchange ideas and encourage investment”.
“Pakistan and Malaysia are strategic partners. Our long-standing relations are based on trust and mutual respect, rooted in shared history and common religious values,” said Syed Ahsan in a written interview with Bernama.
He added that the partnership is now entering “a more dynamic phase”, with expanding engagement across sectors including information technology, artificial intelligence, agriculture, education, tourism, construction and infrastructure.
“The Prime Minister’s visit last year demonstrated the high level of commitment on both sides to work across all areas. Several agreements were signed, especially in trade,” he said. “Malaysia also opened a MATRADE office in Karachi, signalling its strong interest in strengthening commercial ties with Pakistan.”
Business-to-business agreements are also expected to be signed alongside the main conference, reflecting growing private sector interest in joint ventures between both countries.
Malaysia and Pakistan established diplomatic relations in 1957, with ties elevated to a Strategic Partnership in March 2019. In 2024, bilateral trade reached RM8.07 billion (USD1.76 billion), marking a 25.5 per cent increase over the previous year.
Malaysia’s principal exports to Pakistan include palm oil, petroleum and chemical products, while key imports from Pakistan consist of agricultural produce, textiles, footwear and petroleum products. - October 6, 2025
