Islamabad, February 20, 2026: Dato’ Mohammad Azhar Mazlan, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Pakistan, delivered an academic discourse session with students of the National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad, as part of efforts to strengthen educational and people-to-people ties between the two countries.
The High Commissioner was accompanied by Mohammad Syafik Firdaus Bin Hasbullah, Counsellor, and Muhammad Zulasri Bin Rosdi, First Secretary of the High Commission of Malaysia. He was received by Shahid Mahmood Kayani, Rector of NUML. Faculty members, staff, and a large number of students attended the session.
In his address, Ambassador Dato’ Azhar presented an overview of Malaysia’s historical development, Pakistan–Malaysia bilateral relations, and key sectors of the Malaysian economy, including palm oil, semiconductors, aerospace, and the halal industry. He also highlighted Malaysia’s role as ASEAN Chair in 2025, outlining Kuala Lumpur’s priorities of regional stability, economic growth, and deeper ASEAN engagement with South Asia.
The High Commissioner elaborated on Malaysia’s foreign policy priorities and drew attention to the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Program (MTCP), describing it as a cornerstone of development cooperation between Malaysia and Pakistan. He informed the audience that around 800 Pakistani officials have so far benefited from MTCP training courses in Malaysia.
Education featured prominently in the discourse, with Ambassador Dato’ Azhar encouraging Pakistani students to explore higher education opportunities in Malaysia. He noted that Malaysia offers internationally recognised academic standards and a supportive learning environment, adding that as of 2026, nearly 7,000 Pakistani students are enrolled in Malaysian universities.
In his vote of thanks, Muhammad Rafique Khan, Director General of NUML, warmly welcomed the Malaysian High Commissioner and described the visit as historic, marking the first-ever visit of a Malaysian High Commissioner to NUML since its establishment. He praised the ambassador’s comprehensive address on bilateral relations and said it strongly aligned with NUML’s mission of promoting languages and intercultural understanding.
Brigadier Rafique reaffirmed NUML’s commitment to enhancing academic collaboration with Malaysian universities through joint research, exchange programmes, seminars, and publications, and thanked the Malaysian High Commission, NUML faculty, and students for making the event a success.
The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, followed by a reception featuring Malaysian national dishes, including Nasi Lemak, Mee Goreng Mamak, and Karipap pastries.
The academic discourse formed part of the High Commission’s ongoing initiatives to strengthen Pakistan–Malaysia relations through education, culture, and economic engagement, while fostering closer people-to-people linkages between the two countries.
