Pakistan, Malaysia agree to strengthen cooperation in defense, trade and education 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Malaysia have agreed to enhance their cooperation in trade, economic, defense and security sectors, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said after holding talks with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim in Islamabad on Thursday. 

Ibrahim arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday on a three-day visit accompanied by a delegation of ministers and senior officials. Besides his one-on-one meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and delegation-level talks, Ibrahim attended the Pakistan-Malaysia Business Forum and is scheduled to later meet President Asif Ali Zardari. 

In 2023-24, bilateral trade between the two nations reached $1.5 billion, with Pakistan exporting rice, oil, textiles, and seafood and importing palm oil, LNG, and electronics. Malaysia is also a major source of visitors to Pakistan while around 160,000 Pakistanis live in Malaysia, and more than 3,800 Pakistani students are enrolled in its universities. 

Pakistan is also a key labor source for Malaysia in sectors like construction and agriculture.

Speaking at a joint press stakeout in Islamabad, Sharif told Ibrahim that his country was progressing at a rapid pace, describing it as a “model to emulate.”

“Your excellency, in defense cooperation and security cooperation, we’re absolutely ready to further enhance this area through mutual cooperation and your desire would be my command,” Sharif said.

Sharif said both sides also discussed the possibility of Pakistan exporting halal meat to the tune of $200 million per annum to Malaysia, and that both sides also discussed Pakistan exporting Basmati rice to Malaysia. 

Ibrahim confirmed Pakistani and Malaysian delegations held talks related to trade. 

“We do import rice and we have agreed to the initial import of 100,000 metric tons,” he said. The Malaysian prime minister said authorities would go over the price mechanism but assured that there would be no difference in terms of import duty on Pakistani goods. 

He said Malaysia can enhance the amount of halal meat it imports from Pakistan.

“I am pleased to announce that [Malaysian] Trade Office will open next month in Karachi,” Ibrahim said.

He added that Malaysia looked forward to collaborating with Pakistan for the import of skilled labor.

“Our focus is on professionals required to satisfy new demands, massive investments, probably the largest in the ASEAN region in terms of information technology, digital and artificial intelligence,” Ibrahim said. 

Speaking on the Middle East crisis, Ibrahim praised Pakistan’s stance on Gaza, describing the situation in the region as increasingly precarious due to Israel’s invasion of Lebanon and its attacks in the West Bank and Gaza. 

“You have seen not only inconsistency but hypocrisy in many so-called countries talking about human rights and freedom,” Ibrahim lamented. “Lecturing the world about human rights and freedom but certainly being very selective in decisions.”

AGREEMENTS SIGNED 

Both delegations signed agreements to enhance cooperation in several areas, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. 

These included an MoU between the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and the Malaysian External Trade Development Organization to promote trade cooperation between the two countries. 

An agreement was also signed between the Pakistan-Malaysia Business Council, based in Islamabad, and the Malaysia-Pakistan Business Council, based in Kuala Lumpur, to foster commercial cooperation in the halal industry. 

Another agreement was signed between the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and the Malaysia Communication and Multimedia Commission for bilateral collaboration in the telecommunications field. 

“Additionally, Pakistan’s aviation ministry and Malaysian airline AirAsia signed an agreement for four weekly flights,” the PMO said.