Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim arrived at Islamabad's Noor Khan Airport on Wednesday, greeted warmly by his Pakistani counterpart, Shahbaz Sharif. Upon arrival, children dressed in traditional attire presented him with bouquets, and he received a guard of honor along with a 21-gun salute.
During this official visit, Prime Minister Ibrahim will discuss various areas of cooperation with Prime Minister Sharif, including trade, energy, agriculture, tourism, and cultural exchanges.
A high-level delegation accompanies the Malaysian Prime Minister, including Foreign Minister Dato' Seri Attama Haji Muhammad bin Haji Hassan and Minister of International Trade and Industry, Senator Tengku Dato' Seri Attama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, among other ministers.
According to local media reports, both countries aim to strengthen their relations through a broad agenda covering trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture, the halal industry, tourism, cultural exchanges, and public relations.
The spokesperson for the Pakistani Foreign Office stated that the official visit of the Malaysian Prime Minister would focus on further stabilizing bilateral relations and discussing regional and global issues between the two leaders.
Previously, the Foreign Office noted in a press release that 'Pakistan and Malaysia enjoy strong bilateral relations rooted in history, culture, and faith. This visit provides an important opportunity to enhance Malaysia-Pakistan relations.'
During his trip, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is also scheduled to deliver a lecture at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), where he will be awarded an honorary doctorate in philosophy.
Additionally, Prime Minister Ibrahim will meet with former President Asif Ali Zardari, who will confer upon him Pakistan's highest civilian award, the Nishan-e-Pakistan.
According to Pakistani media, the trade volume between Malaysia and Pakistan last year was $1.4 billion, a decrease of 18% from the record $1.78 billion in 2022.