Islamabad, April 01: Pakistan’s investments in Malaysia have expanded to approximately $397 million, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stated on Monday.
Following a phone conversation with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Anwar shared in a Facebook post that he welcomed further investments from Pakistan, particularly in agriculture, petrochemicals, and the biomass sector.
He stated that both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations. “Our friendship continues to flourish, opening new opportunities for cooperation, especially after my visit to Pakistan last October,” Anwar wrote.
The Malaysian prime minister also confirmed that Shehbaz is scheduled to visit Malaysia for the first time in May and expressed his anticipation of welcoming him on May 9.
“I pray that the blessings of Ramazan and Eidul Fitr bring renewed strength to the Malaysia-Pakistan partnership for the prosperity of our peoples,” he added.
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Their discussion also covered the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Anwar condemned Israel’s violations of the ceasefire, stating that such actions continue to hinder peace efforts.
“We exchanged views and coordinated strategies to support Gaza’s reconstruction and to end violence against Palestinians,” he said.
Bilateral Trade Ties
The prime ministers of Pakistan and Malaysia had agreed to expand bilateral trade and enhance economic collaboration, following discussions in Islamabad.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif, both leaders announced plans to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors, including energy, agriculture, connectivity, and tourism.
Trade between the two nations during the 2023-2024 fiscal year stood at $1.5 billion.
Key areas of focus, stating, “Both sides have committed to strengthening economic ties, increasing trade, eliminating barriers in key industries, ensuring a level playing field, and addressing the trade imbalance.”
Amid economic challenges, Pakistan—having recently secured a $7 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund—has been working to expand trade partnerships with both Middle Eastern and Western nations.
