PAKISTAN PM MUHAMMAD SHEHBAZ DEPARTS FOR HOME AFTER OFFICIAL VISIT TO MALAYSIA

SEPANG, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif departed for home today after a three-day official visit to Malaysia.

Muhammad Shehbaz departed from the Bunga Raya Complex of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 11.50 am after receiving a red carpet ceremonial send-off with a guard-of-honour mounted by the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment. 

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was present to bid Muhammad Shehbaz and his delegation bon voyage.

Anwar honoured his counterpart by gifting him a photo album documenting the successful three-day visit.

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, who served as minister-in-attendance, was also present. 

Muhammad Shehbaz’s visit to Malaysia was at the invitation of Anwar as a reciprocal gesture to Anwar’s official visit to Pakistan in October 2024, reflecting the deepening ties between the two nations.

Both leaders held a bilateral meeting yesterday, during which the two countries agreed to further strengthen cooperation in defence, aviation, public health and cybersecurity as part of ongoing efforts to deepen bilateral ties.

Malaysia and Pakistan also reaffirmed their shared stance on key global issues, including the situation in Gaza, Islamophobia and regional stability, as well as pledged to strengthen regional cooperation in disaster management and humanitarian assistance.

Muhammad Shehbaz also presented Anwar with an Urdu translation of the book 'SCRIPT: For a Better Malaysia', authored by the latter, which outlines the vision for a just and united nation through the MADANI framework, integrity, social justice and diversity as foundations for progress.

The Pakistani Prime Minister was then conferred an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership and Governance from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in recognition of his outstanding leadership and contributions to nation-building and global Islamic governance.

The conferment took place during a Special Convocation Ceremony held at the ISTAC-IIUM, Kuala Lumpur Campus, officiated by the IIUM Constitutional Head Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.

Following the elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership in March 2019, Malaysia and Pakistan, which established diplomatic ties in 1957, recorded total trade of RM8.07 billion (US$1.76 billion) in 2024, marking a 25.5 per cent increase from the previous year. 

Malaysia’s main exports to Pakistan include palm oil, petroleum and chemical products, while imports from Pakistan comprise agricultural goods, textiles, apparel, footwear and petroleum products.

-- BERNAMA