Kuala Lumpur, October 6, 2025: Pakistan and Malaysia on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in trade, education, technology, and governance, as Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that his government would import $200 million worth of halal meat from Pakistan.
The announcement came during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s three-day official visit to Malaysia, where the two leaders held wide-ranging discussions to expand bilateral ties and explore new areas of partnership.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Prime Minister Shehbaz described Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as “a leader of remarkable qualities,” acknowledging his pivotal role in Malaysia’s development. “Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Pakistan was a memorable one, and we had very positive discussions,” he said.
Welcoming Malaysia’s decision to import halal meat from Pakistan, the premier said the trade volume in the sector would continue to grow. “We will expand halal meat trade with the passage of time,” he noted, adding that Pakistan was eager to pursue joint ventures and collaborations in food processing and certification to benefit from Malaysia’s expertise.
“Our relations have strengthened over time, and I thank the people of Malaysia for their heartfelt welcome,” Shehbaz said. “Malaysia is like a second home to us.”
The prime minister also appreciated the opportunities provided to Pakistani students studying in Malaysia, saying their success reflected the growing people-to-people links between the two nations.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, in his remarks, stressed the importance of peace between Pakistan and India for regional stability. “Peace between Pakistan and India is vital for our region,” he said, assuring that Malaysia would extend every possible cooperation to combat terrorism and promote economic stability in South Asia.
In a symbolic gesture, Shehbaz Sharif praised his counterpart’s newly launched book, calling it “a bridge between Islamabad and Kuala Lumpur.”
“The visit will further strengthen our brotherly relations,” Shehbaz said, concluding the joint press interaction.
During the visit, Pakistan and Malaysia signed six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to enhance collaboration in education, tourism, halal certification, anti-corruption efforts, and small and medium enterprise (SME) development.
The signing ceremony took place at the Perdana Putra Complex in Putrajaya, witnessed by both prime ministers after their bilateral meeting and delegation-level talks.
- Diplomatic Training: An MoU was signed between the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) and the Foreign Service Academy of Pakistan for cooperation in diplomat training. The documents were exchanged by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Malaysian Foreign Minister Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan.
- Tourism Cooperation: Malaysian Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing and Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar exchanged documents to promote collaboration in tourism development.
- Halal Certification: A key MoU on Halal Certification was signed between Malaysia’s Dr. Haji Mohd Na’im Bin Haji Mokhtar and Pakistan’s Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan.
- Anti-Corruption Collaboration: Another accord was inked to expand cooperation in combating and preventing corruption.
- SME Development: A separate MoU was signed between the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) of Pakistan and the SME Corporation of Malaysia, exchanged by CEO Rizal bin Dato’ Nainy and Special Assistant to the PM Syed Tariq Fatemi.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz received a guard of honour at the official reception, where the national anthems of both countries were played. The two leaders later held one-on-one talks followed by delegation-level discussions focusing on trade, investment, IT, education, infrastructure, energy, and digital economy.
The Pakistani delegation included 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.
Shehbaz arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday night, where he was received by Malaysian Minister of Communications Fahmi Fadzil, Pakistan’s High Commissioner Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, and other diplomatic officials.
Before his departure, the prime minister said on X (formerly Twitter) that he looked forward to “a comprehensive exchange of views” with PM Anwar Ibrahim to “enhance trade, economic engagement, and cooperation in various fields.”
