Pakistan and Malaysia on Monday vowed to deepen bilateral cooperation across various sectors, including trade, education, Halal certification, and anti-corruption efforts.

In a key development, Malaysia announced plans to import $200 million worth of Halal meat from Pakistan.

Addressing a joint press stakeout, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, following their “very productive” meeting and delegation-level talks, said that they discussed a wide range of issues, including bilateral cooperation and international concerns such as Israel’s oppression in Gaza.

Prime Minister Shehbaz, who is on his first official visit to Malaysia, expressed Pakistan’s desire to collaborate with Malaysia to leverage its expertise in various fields.

He suggested that both countries could initiate joint ventures and mutually beneficial projects, particularly in agriculture, IT, and vocational training, where Pakistan has made notable strides.

Shehbaz highlighted the large number of students studying in both countries, underscoring the importance of harnessing this potential to strengthen their economies and move forward together through win-win cooperation.

“You have announced a quota of $200 million for meat exports from Pakistan to Malaysia,” the prime minister said.

“Let me assure our Malaysian importers and officials that this quota will be regulated by market price mechanisms and will fully comply with all Halal certification requirements set by Malaysian customs and food authorities. I guarantee that we will make every effort to not only meet this $200 million target but also surpass it significantly. When consumers are satisfied, the sky’s the limit.”

During the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presented Anwar Ibrahim with an Urdu version of his book, SCRIPT: For a Better Malaysia.

He praised Anwar’s leadership qualities, including compassion, courage, resilience, and patience, while emphasising his role in building Malaysia into one of the world’s strongest economies.

He said the book’s translated version added another bridge between Pakistan and Malaysia as Anwar Ibrahim’s work was a guiding framework for his Madani vision of sustainability, mutual respect, care, innovation, research and development, prosperity, and mutual trust.

He noted that the Urdu translation of Anwar Ibrahim’s book would serve as a bridge between the two countries, and Anwar Ibrahim’s work was a guiding framework for his Madani vision of sustainability, mutual respect, care, innovation, research and development, prosperity, and mutual trust.

The prime minister appreciated that last year, the works of Allama Iqbal — Shikwa, Jawab-e-Shikwa, Asrar-e-Khudi, and The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam — were translated into Malay, emphasising that Allama Iqbal’s philosophy called for self-realisation and self-discovery and that nations were built not through magic wands but through hard work, tireless efforts, and unwavering commitment.

Shehbaz also expressed gratitude for the “exceptionally warm” welcome he received from the Malaysian government and said he would leave Malaysia, which he referred to as his “second home,” feeling inspired and better informed about Malaysia’s remarkable development journey — something Pakistan, with its population of 240 million, also aims to achieve.

He said that Pakistan was eager to forge a meaningful partnership with Malaysia to achieve shared goals as the country was rich in resources, including minerals, water, human talent, fertile land, and the will to succeed.

In his remarks, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged the strong ties between the two countries in areas such as education, defence, and economic cooperation.

He highlighted the immense potential to deepen collaboration in defence, agriculture, digital technologies, energy, and emerging fields.

In terms of trade, Anwar confirmed Malaysia’s commitment to facilitating Pakistan’s interest in exporting meat.

He assured that his government would take the necessary steps to achieve this goal and strengthen bilateral economic ties.

On regional issues, Anwar Ibrahim stressed the importance of peace between Pakistan and India for regional stability.

He also praised Pakistan’s stance on Gaza, reaffirming the two countries’ call for concrete action to alleviate the suffering in Gaza.

Anwar Ibrahim expressed support for the 20-point peace initiative proposed by US President Donald Trump, while also noting some reservations on its framework.

He also praised the contributions of Pakistani professionals, skilled workers, and students, who have long been part of Malaysia’s development landscape.

Expressing his gratitude for the translation of his book, Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged Malaysia’s ongoing efforts to translate the works of Allama Iqbal, whose intellectual legacy continues to inspire not only Pakistan but also Malaysia.