Shehbaz Sharif Begins Official Visit to Malaysia to Boost Bilateral Ties

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif officially began his visit to Malaysia on Monday, where he was warmly welcomed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. A formal guard of honour was presented to PM Shehbaz at the Perdana Putra Complex in Putrajaya, which houses the Malaysian Prime Minister’s office. He is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi.

Before departing on Sunday, PM Shehbaz shared a message on X (formerly Twitter), saying he looked forward to a comprehensive exchange of views with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. He said the two leaders share a common desire to enhance trade, economic engagement, and bilateral cooperation in various fields. The prime minister also mentioned that important global and regional matters would be discussed during the visit.

According to the Foreign Office, the leaders of Pakistan and Malaysia are expected to hold talks on enhancing cooperation in multiple areas, including trade, IT and telecommunications, the Halal industry, investment, education, energy, infrastructure, the digital economy, and people-to-people connections. The two sides are also expected to witness the signing of several agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) covering both existing and new sectors.

The Foreign Office added that this visit reflects the strong and enduring strategic partnership between Pakistan and Malaysia. This relationship is built on mutual respect, shared interests, and close cooperation across a wide range of sectors. Pakistan and Malaysia have historically maintained strong economic, religious, and cultural ties. Earlier this year in April, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim shared that Pakistan’s investments in Malaysia have grown to about $397 million. In May, Pakistan’s Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani highlighted the collaboration between the two countries in addressing global challenges faced by the Islamic world, such as Islamophobia.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit is expected to strengthen the longstanding friendship between the two nations and create new opportunities for mutual growth and cooperation.