Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was given a guard of honor on arriving at Prime Minister’s House on Thursday, just before his delegation-level meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Shehbaz welcomed the foreign dignitary with open arms, who had arrived on a three-day state visit along with his delegation. On the occasion, national anthems of both countries were played, and smartly turned-out contingents of the armed forces presented the guard of honor.
Both leaders took a moment to introduce their delegations to one another, just before proceeding to their meeting and delegation-level talks. Prime Minister Ibrahim also planted a sapling in the lawn of the PM’s House.
Earlier, the state-run news agency said the discussions would focus on trade expansion, energy cooperation and closer collaboration in the agriculture and tourism sectors. The two countries are expected to enhance their cooperation on connectivity, halal industry and people-to-people relations. Shehbaz personally went to the airport to receive the visiting dignitary, and soon shared his thoughts in a social media post, saying that both countries had shared goals of peace, economic development and regional growth. He hoped that the talks would help improve both countries’ futures.
Anwar Ibrahim also shared a post in which he said that the main purpose of his trip was to reinforce the friendly relations between the peoples of Pakistan and Malaysia. He also said the relationship had stood the test of time. He particularly stressed the importance of cooperation in diverse areas that would further cement the bond between the two countries.
According to reports, the two sides will have extensive discussions on trade. Malaysia has been a key partner for Pakistan due to the former’s strong economic standing in Southeast Asia.
Both sides will explore ways to increase their trade volume, which has decreased over the last few years. Collaborations are expected in the halal industry, with Malaysia being a global leader in this sector and Pakistan having a growing market. Now, both countries are keen to build on this industry and will be looking to have joint ventures and business partnerships.
Moreover, they will discuss cooperation in the energy sector, as both countries are facing challenges in meeting their energy needs.
Pakistan sees Malaysia’s impressive progress in the green and renewable energy as an opportunity for collaboration, and will be looking forward to exploring these opportunities to address its own energy needs.
Also, both Prime Ministers Shehbaz Sharif and Anwar Ibrahim would put emphasis on people-to-people contact and cultural exchanges. They will likely discuss ways to promote tourism in their respective country, which could include simplifying visa processes and organizing joint cultural festivals.
Educational collaboration is also set to feature in the talks, where both sides will explore ways to expand scholarship programs and student exchange initiatives. The halal industry is however one of the standout potential cooperation areas. Given Malaysia’s expertise in halal certification and production and Pakistan’s growing demands for halal products, an opportunity is opening for serving both countries.
As the global halal market continues to expand, this collaboration could help both countries strengthen their positions. The two prime ministers are also expected to discuss diplomatic issues and regional security concerns. The Malaysian leader’s visit is expected to lay the groundwork for a more comprehensive cooperation in a range of sectors.