Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim landed in Islamabad on Wednesday for a three-day official visit from October 2-4. Upon his arrival, he was greeted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and a high-level delegation with a warm ceremonial welcome, including a 21-cannon salute and children in traditional dress offering flowers.
During his stay, Malaysian Prime Minister Ibrahim is set to hold crucial meetings with Pakistani leadership, including PM Shehbaz, to strengthen bilateral relations. The discussions will cover various sectors such as trade, energy, agriculture, halal industry, and cultural exchanges. Both leaders will also focus on regional and global developments of mutual interest.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and members of the federal cabinet attended the reception, reflecting the significance of the visit. According to the Foreign Office, this trip presents a key opportunity to reinforce Pakistan-Malaysia ties, which are historically rooted in shared cultural and faith-based connections.
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In anticipation of the visit, Malaysia’s Deputy Head of Mission Syafik Firdaus Hasbullah emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation between the two countries in fields like defence, renewable energy, climate change, and industrial development. Speaking at a recent event organized by the Institute of Regional Studies, Hasbullah pointed out that Malaysian exports to Pakistan largely focus on agriculture, textiles, and chemical products, but there is a need for greater collaboration in high-tech industries.
Hasbullah also highlighted Malaysia’s ongoing support for Pakistan through the Malaysian Technological Cooperation Program (MTCP), which has benefitted over 700 Pakistanis since its inception in 1980. The program covers areas such as Islamic finance, tourism, anti-corruption, and the halal industry.
Both sides are expected to explore opportunities to elevate the current bilateral trade volume, which stands at $1.78 billion, and align their goals to foster stronger economic and industrial cooperation.
