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Malaysia has expressed its intention to expand palm oil exports to Pakistan, in line with growing demand and in recognition of Pakistan's potential in the food manufacturing and processing sector. The commitment came during a visit by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Malaysia. At the meeting, the prime ministers of Pakistan and Malaysia agreed to ensure a stable and sustainable supply chain while upholding environmentally responsible practices. According to the joint Pakistan-Malaysia statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, the two leaders acknowledged the growing global demand for halal products and services, and agreed to strengthen cooperation in the halal sector. The statement affirmed that "both countries are committed to facilitating mutual recognition of halal certificates, enhancing the supply and manufacturing of halal food, and exchanging best practices in halal certification."
Prime Minister Shehbaz: Pakistan Seeks to Strengthen Economic Ties with Malaysia Through Joint Projects
At the invitation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif paid an official visit to Malaysia from 5 to 7 October 2025. This marked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's first official visit to Malaysia since taking office on 4 March 2024. The two leaders agreed to convene another meeting of the Pakistan-Malaysia Joint Committee at the level of foreign ministers at a time convenient to both sides. The prime ministers acknowledged the immense potential in trade and investment, and expressed satisfaction with ongoing efforts to boost bilateral trade and investment. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening balanced and sustainable economic relations by improving market access, facilitating ease of doing business, and making effective use of the Malaysia-Pakistan Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (MPCEPA). The leaders acknowledged the importance of sustainable agricultural practices and agreed to explore joint research, innovation and the development of sustainable agricultural production methods. Both sides also agreed to further deepen bilateral defence cooperation, particularly in defence science, technology and industry, through the transfer of knowledge and technology. Recognising the importance of aviation in fostering greater connectivity and encouraging people-to-people exchanges, the two prime ministers agreed to enhance air travel services and explore opportunities to increase connectivity between Malaysia and Pakistan. Efforts will focus on expanding air traffic rights to enable the growth of flight routes and facilitate increased air travel, thereby strengthening economic, trade and tourism ties between the two countries. The leaders expressed optimism about expanding tourism cooperation, particularly in light of Malaysia's "Visit Malaysia 2026" (VM2026) and "Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026" (MYMT2026) campaigns. Malaysia extended a warm welcome to Pakistani travellers, and the two leaders agreed to boost tourism promotion and cultural exchange between both sides. They also agreed to continue exchanging information and expertise to address emerging security challenges. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan's strong support for Malaysia's chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), expressing confidence in Malaysia's leadership in guiding the bloc towards deeper regional integration, peace and prosperity. The two leaders welcomed the progress made in implementing the ASEAN-Pakistan Sectoral Dialogue Partnership: Practical Areas of Cooperation 2024-2028. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his deep appreciation and heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the Malaysian government for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to him and his accompanying delegation during the visit.