Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim concluded his three-day state visit to Pakistan the other day, saying that the trip had “great personal significance”.
His departure on Friday marked the end of a diplomatic engagement, which was aimed at strengthening ties between Pakistan and Malaysia. He was received and later bid farewell at the airport by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif himself, along with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other federal ministers and senior officials.
Throughout the visit, Anwar Ibrahim and his team engaged in strategic discussions with Pakistani officials. Malaysian ministers, deputy ministers, and senior officials comprised the delegation, which showed the visitors’ serious intent to strengthen bilateral relations.
Anwar Ibrahim had a one-on-one meeting with Shehbaz Sharif and later led comprehensive delegation-level talks. He also had productive talks with President Asif Ali Zardari.
Following these interactions, the visiting dignitary shared on the social media details of the productive outcomes of his engagements, letting the world know how import the discussions were in promoting collaboration between the two countries. His meetings, especially the ones with representatives from various industries, helped secure agreements in various fields. The two sides signed three important memorandums of understanding that were aimed at boost cooperation in several sectors. They included an agreement regarding the export of $200 million worth of halal meat and 100,000 tons of Basmati rice to Malaysia. These agreements have paved the way for enhanced trade and investment, with Malaysia playing a key role in supporting Pakistan’s agricultural and technological advancements.
The Malaysian prime minister also declared that the cooperation would not be limited to trade but extended to advanced sectors like artificial intelligence, digital technology, and semiconductor manufacturing. Moreover, Malaysia would continue its palm oil exports to Pakistan, while exploring other avenues for growth, such as importing skilled labor from Pakistan in the technology sector.
Anwar Ibrahim was also honored with the Nishan-i-Pakistan, the country’s highest civilian award, by President Zardari during a special ceremony. He also received an honorary PhD from the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), where he delivered a public lecture.
Talking about the visit, Shehbaz said it would bring Pakistan and Malaysia closer and strengthen their ties in trade, technology, and industrial sectors. He praised the success of the Pakistan-Malaysia Business Forum, which is expected to increase bilateral trade, boost Pakistan’s exports, and create job opportunities within the country. Both sides also pledged to expand their collaboration in information technology, electric vehicle manufacturing, and other important industries.
Shehbaz also said that Anwar Ibrahim’s admiration for Allama Muhammad Iqbal was a source of pride for Pakistan. He thanked his Malaysian counterpart for his positive remarks about the government and people of Pakistan.