Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Arrives in Malaysia for Three-Day Official Visit
SEPANG, Oct 5 (VoM): Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Malaysia on Sunday night for a three-day official visit at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The special aircraft carrying Shehbaz and his delegation landed at the Bunga Raya Complex, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), at around 9.46 p.m. They were warmly received by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
Upon arrival, Prime Minister Shehbaz inspected a guard of honor comprising 28 officers and personnel from the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment, led by Captain Nor Saifullah Mahmad @ Mohammed.
According to a statement from Malaysia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry (Wisma Putra), the visit is a reciprocation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s official visit to Pakistan in October 2024. Shehbaz is accompanied by several Cabinet members, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar.
An official welcoming ceremony will be held at the Perdana Putra Complex in Putrajaya on Monday, followed by a bilateral meeting between the two leaders. The discussions are expected to review the progress of Malaysia-Pakistan relations and explore new areas of cooperation in trade, investment, the halal industry, education, tourism, and defense.
Both prime ministers are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues of shared concern.
During the visit, five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are scheduled to be signed in the fields of tourism, higher education, halal certification, anti-corruption efforts, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), along with an Exchange of Notes (EoN) on diplomatic training.
Prime Minister Shehbaz will also present an Urdu translation of Prime Minister Anwar’s book “SCRIPT: For a Better Malaysia.” An official dinner in honor of the visiting leader will be hosted at the Seri Perdana Complex.
Additionally, both leaders will attend the Pakistan Malaysia Business and Investment Conference, aimed at enhancing commercial ties and private sector collaboration between the two nations.
In a social media post, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Shehbaz’s visit reflects the close and friendly relations between Malaysia and Pakistan and provides an opportunity to strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit.
Malaysia and Pakistan established diplomatic relations in 1957, with ties elevated to a strategic partnership in 2019. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached RM8.07 billion (US$1.76 billion) in 2024, a 25.5% increase compared to 2023.
Malaysia’s major exports to Pakistan include palm oil, petroleum, and chemical products, while Pakistan’s key exports to Malaysia consist of agricultural produce, textiles, apparel, footwear, and petroleum products.
The visit is expected to further solidify bilateral relations and open new avenues for cooperation between the two brotherly nations.
@voice of Malaysia news