https://arab.news/b6s52
- Pakistani PM’s visit aims to deepen Pakistan-Malaysia partnership in trade, IT, halal industry, and digital economy
- Leaders expected to witness signing of multiple agreements and MoUs to boost bilateral collaboration
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Malaysia are set to sign a series of wide-ranging cooperation agreements as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif began formal talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya on Monday, focusing on expanding bilateral trade and investment, the foreign ministry in Islamabad said.
Sharif’s three-day visit to Malaysia, taking place from October 5–7 at Anwar’s invitation, underscores Islamabad’s drive to strengthen partnerships across Southeast Asia and reinvigorate longstanding economic and diplomatic ties with Kuala Lumpur.
Pakistan regards Malaysia as a vital partner within ASEAN, and the talks are expected to open new opportunities in trade and investment in sectors ranging from the halal industry to IT and education. The two leaders will also exchange views on regional and global developments, including cooperation at multilateral platforms such as the OIC and the United Nations.
“The two leaders will deliberate on enhancing bilateral cooperation in trade to explore opportunities for further cooperation in trade, IT & telecom, Halal industry, investment, education, energy, infrastructure, digital economy, and people-to-people ties,” the foreign office said ahead of Sharif’s visit.
“The leaders are expected to witness the signing of Agreements/MoUs for cooperation in several existing and new sectors.”
On Monday morning, Sharif was welcomed at the PM’s complex of Perdana Putra by Anwar Ibrahim and presented with a guard of honor by the Malaysian Armed Forces.
Bilateral trade between Pakistan and Malaysia currently stands at around $1.4 billion annually, according to official data from both governments. Pakistan exported goods worth about $515 million to Malaysia in 2024, while imports from Malaysia were valued at nearly $960 million, leaving Islamabad with a trade deficit of roughly $445 million, according to the State Bank of Pakistan and the Malaysian external trade statistics.
Malaysia’s exports to Pakistan are dominated by palm oil and other vegetable fats, as well as machinery, rubber products, and organic chemicals, while Pakistan’s main exports to Malaysia include rice, textiles, seafood, and minerals. Officials say there is growing interest in diversifying the trade basket beyond commodities toward IT services, halal certification and higher-value manufactured goods.
The two countries have traded under the Malaysia-Pakistan Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (MPCEPA) since 2008, which provides preferential market access for goods and services.
In October 2024, they signed four new memorandums of understanding to boost cooperation in trade, investment, and industrial collaboration, and later agreed to renegotiate and modernize their bilateral free trade framework to reflect emerging opportunities in digital and sustainable sectors.