Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim Concludes State Visit to Pakistan

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim departed from Pakistan on Friday, wrapping up a three-day state visit that he described as holding “great personal significance.” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, along with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and senior officials, saw him off at the airport, marking the conclusion of a visit focused on enhancing bilateral ties.

During his stay, PM Ibrahim engaged in one-on-one discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz and held delegation-level talks, as well as a “productive discussion” with President Asif Ali Zardari. The Malaysian leader reported “productive outcomes” from his engagements, highlighting a commitment to strengthening ties between the two nations.

The two countries signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to bolster cooperation across various sectors. Under the agreements, Pakistan will export $200 million worth of Halal meat and 100,000 tonnes of Basmati rice to Malaysia. Both nations also committed to increasing collaboration in trade, agricultural technology, and skilled workforce development, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence and semiconductors.

President Zardari honored Prime Minister Ibrahim with the Nishan-i-Pakistan award in a special ceremony, while the National University of Science and Technology conferred upon him an honorary PhD, recognizing his contributions to Malaysia-Pakistan relations.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the visit as a new chapter in Pakistan-Malaysia relations, with increased cooperation in IT, electric vehicle manufacturing, and trade set to create jobs and enhance bilateral exports. He also expressed pride in PM Ibrahim’s admiration for Allama Muhammad Iqbal, further strengthening the cultural bond between the nations.