Pakistan, Malaysia to sign several MoUs as PM Shehbaz greeted by Anwar Ibrahim in Kuala Lumpur

One-on-one, delegation level talks to focus on cementing bilateral ties in key sectors

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reached Kuala Lumpur on an official visit to Malaysia. The visit has been extended by his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim.

The premier was received at Bunga Raya International Airport by Malaysia’s Minister of Communications and Digital Fahmi Fadzil, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, and members of the diplomatic staff.

PM Shehbaz, on his arrival in Malaysia on Sunday, was accorded royal protocol and later escorted to his official residence, where he was personally greeted by PM Ibrahim.

Also Read: AJK accord sets stage for sweeping reforms

"I am delighted to be in Malaysia on an official visit at the invitation of my dear brother Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia,” PM Shehbaz said in a post on X, appreciating the warm welcome accorded to him. “Looking forward to cordial and constructive bilateral engagements with PM Anwar Ibrahim and his team, Shehbaz mentioned.”

The premier is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi.

During the visit, Shehbaz and Ibrahim are scheduled to hold one-on-one and delegation-level talks to expand cooperation across multiple sectors.

Several agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed in the fields of trade, information technology, telecommunications, halal food industry, investment, education, energy, infrastructure, and the digital economy. Both sides will also explore new avenues for enhancing and strengthening people-to-people contacts.

Officials said, the visit is expected to provide new impetus to Pakistan-Malaysia ties and strengthen cooperation in emerging and strategic sectors.

Last year, in early October 2024, PM Ibrahim visited Pakistan, where he was awarded the Nishan-e-Pakistan for his contributions to Islamic brotherhood and cooperation.

Read: Muslim nations welcome Hamas steps on Gaza peace plan

Pakistan and Malaysia are bonded through the Malaysian-Pakistan Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (MPCEPA), signed in 2007. The Free Trade Agreement was signed to promote trade in goods and services, and ensure regulated cross-border investment flows. MPCEPA ensures capacity building in intellectual property protection, healthcare, telecommunications, tourism, and construction.

The agreements are set to deepen collaboration, moving beyond traditional diplomacy to foster tangible growth and shared prosperity for both nations.