ISLAMABAD, Oct 3 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif held a fruitful meeting on various bilateral issues at the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Official Residence here today.
Anwar, who arrived in Islamabad last night for a three-day state visit to Pakistan, said his visit to the South Asian country was “very meaningful” to him.
“This is a very meaningful visit to Pakistan. We (Malaysia and Pakistan) discussed various issues concerning both countries from economic zones, issues of trade and markets, and others,” he said during a joint press conference with Shehbaz after their meeting.
Anwar said as a result of the meeting, Malaysia agreed in principle to import 100,000 metric tonnes of halal meat from Pakistan, as well as Basmati rice.
He expressed confidence Pakistan’s halal meat exporters would have no problem adhering to Malaysia’s stringent halal regulations to maintain the quality of their halal meat products.
On the issue of Malaysia’s need for skilled labour, especially in the information technology, artificial intelligence and semiconductor sectors, the Prime Minister said he is hopeful Pakistan can become a source of skilled labour for Malaysia.
Malaysia, he said, wants to see the country’s airlines given more landing rights in Pakistan to facilitate the increased number of tourists, students, trade, commerce and others between the two countries.
The Prime Minister also noted that the strong position of the Pakistani government in condemning the genocide being committed by Israel on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as Tel Aviv’s intransigence, which has escalated the already tense situation in the Middle East to breaking point.
Calling Malaysia a brotherly country to Pakistan, Shehbaz in his remarks at the joint press conference said Malaysia’s economic achievements are exemplary and must serve as a model to all Muslim countries.
He said he is hopeful that bilateral relations with Malaysia, which was established in 1957 when the latter gained its independence, can be elevated.
“Malaysia’s progress should be emulated by all Muslim countries, in terms of attracting foreign direct investment, becoming a hub for the semiconductor industry, and others,” he said.
— Bernama
