Kuala lumpur: Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif departed for home today after completing 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, receiving a ceremonial send-off with a guard-of-honour from the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was present to bid farewell to Muhammad Shehbaz and his delegation.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar honoured his counterpart by gifting him a photo album documenting the successful visit. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, serving as minister-in-attendance, was also present at the departure. Muhammad Shehbaz's visit was a reciprocal gesture following Anwar's official visit to Pakistan in October 2024, signifying deepening ties between the two nations. During the visit, both leaders agreed to enhance cooperation in fields such as defence, aviation, public health, and cybersecurity.
The two countries reaffirmed their shared stance on key global issues, including the situation in Gaza, Islamophobia, and regional stability. They also pledged to strengthen cooperation in disaster management and humanitarian assistance. Muhammad Shehbaz presented Anwar with an Urdu translation of 'SCRIPT: For a Better Malaysia', authored by Anwar, outlining the MADANI framework for a just and united nation.
During the visit, the Pakistani Prime Minister was conferred an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership and Governance from the International Islamic University Malaysia. This recognition was for his leadership and contributions to nation-building and global Islamic governance, awarded at a Special Convocation Ceremony at the ISTAC-IIUM, Kuala Lumpur Campus.
Following the elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership in March 2019, Malaysia and Pakistan reported a 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 include agricultural goods, textiles, apparel, footwear, and petroleum products.