Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim has arrived in Islamabad for a three-day official visit aimed at enhancing the bilateral strategic partnership with Pakistan. Key discussions will include trade, energy, and cultural exchanges, alongside significant diplomatic engagements. This visit follows a notable decline in trade between the two nations, signaling an urgent need for strengthened relations.
Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim has arrived in Islamabad to commence a three-day official visit that seeks to reinvigorate the strategic bilateral partnership between Malaysia and Pakistan. He was welcomed at the Nur Khan Airbase by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Accompanying the Malaysian Prime Minister is a high-profile delegation, which includes prominent ministers such as Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hassan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, the Minister of International Trade and Industry, Deputy Minister of Transport Datuk Haji Hasbi Bin Haji Habibollah, and Senator Dr. Zulkifli bin Hasan, the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs). Prior to the Prime Minister’s arrival, Foreign Minister Mohammad met with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, to engage in preliminary discussions on key agenda points. A formal meeting between the two prime ministers is scheduled for Thursday, during which they will evaluate the existing state of cooperation and identify new strategies to enhance bilateral relations across several critical sectors including trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture, the halal industry, tourism, and cultural exchanges. The two nations, having established a strategic partnership in 2019, will also address significant regional and international issues of common interest, particularly concerning the Palestine conflict, the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, and the dynamics in the Middle East. Following their discussions, they will witness the signing of two significant documents: a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Matrade and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, and a letter of cooperation between the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). Additionally, during this visit, three translated works of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, originally written in Persian, Urdu, and English, are set to be launched in Bahasa Melayu. Prime Minister Anwar is scheduled to deliver a lecture at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), where he will be conferred an honorary doctorate in philosophy. Furthermore, he is expected to meet with President Asif Ali Zardari, who will present him with Pakistan’s highest civilian honor, the Nishan-i-Pakistan. In the year 2023, the trade volume between Malaysia and Pakistan reached $1.4 billion, reflecting an 18 percent decline from the previous year’s total of $1.78 billion. The Foreign Office has emphasized that Prime Minister Anwar’s visit “presents a significant opportunity to further strengthen Pakistan-Malaysia relations.”
The visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim is significant in advancing the diplomatic and economic ties between Malaysia and Pakistan, which have been strategically aligned since 2019. The discussions will focus on enhancing cooperation in various fields, reflecting the importance of sustained engagement and collaboration amidst changing regional dynamics. With previous years marking fluctuating trade values, this visit is seen as a pivotal step toward reversing the recent downward trend in trade relations and fostering a deeper partnership driven by shared interests.
In conclusion, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Pakistan represents a crucial opportunity for both nations to revitalize their bilateral partnership and address pressing regional and international challenges. The high-level discussions and planned agreements are expected to pave the way for a new era of cooperation focused on mutual growth and understanding. Through strategic engagements, both Malaysia and Pakistan aim to reinforce their ties and explore avenues that would benefit their respective economies and societies.
Original Source: www.dawn.com
