Pakistan and Malaysia on Monday agreed to enhance cooperation in trade, education, Halal certification, and anti-corruption initiatives, with Malaysia allocating a $200 million quota for Halal meat imports from Pakistan.
“We covered a wide range of matters on bilateral relations and other international matters,” Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said.
The development was revealed during Shehbaz Sharif’s three-day visit to Malaysia, where he held extensive talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
In a joint press conference, Ibrahim said Malaysia had already increased rice imports from Pakistan and is ready to import up to $200 million worth of meat under a new Halal trade framework, following talks with Sharif. He added that both countries also agreed to strengthen cooperation in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), innovation, digital industries, and semiconductors, citing Pakistan’s performance in these fields.
The two leaders also explored opportunities to strengthen collaboration in AI, digital innovation, and vocational and technical training, with Sharif advocating joint ventures that leverage Malaysian expertise and Pakistani talent. They also reiterated their commitment to the Malaysia-Pakistan Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (MPCEPA), which offers preferential market access for goods and services.
According to official figures, annual bilateral trade between Pakistan and Malaysia totals approximately $1.4 billion. In 2024, Pakistan’s exports to Malaysia reached around $515 million, while imports from Malaysia amounted to nearly $960 million, resulting in a trade deficit of about $445 million for Islamabad, as reported by the State Bank of Pakistan and Malaysia’s external trade data.
Since 2008, Pakistan and Malaysia have conducted trade under the Malaysia-Pakistan Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (MPCEPA), which grants preferential market access for both goods and services.
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