Pakistan, Malaysia vow to deepen trade, investment ties

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh on Friday attended the Malaysia–Pakistan Business Engagement 2026: Strengthening Trade, Investment and Business Linkages as Guest of Honour at the High Commission of Malaysia, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation, expanding bilateral trade and promoting investment partnerships between the two brotherly countries.

The event brought together representatives of the public and private sectors, business leaders, investors and economic stakeholders to explore new avenues for bilateral trade, investment and business-to-business collaboration.

Ambassador Dato’ Mohammad Azhar Mazlan, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Pakistan, welcomed the federal minister and appreciated him for taking time out of his busy schedule to attend the engagement. He highlighted the longstanding and cordial relations between Malaysia and Pakistan and emphasised the considerable potential for further expanding commercial and economic cooperation.

Addressing the gathering, the Malaysian high commissioner underscored the importance of translating the two countries’ longstanding friendship into stronger trade and investment partnerships.

He noted Pakistan’s significance as a major trading partner in South Asia and expressed confidence that bilateral trade could be substantially increased, with an ambition to expand its value up to approximately USD 1.5 billion to USD 5 billion through enhanced commercial engagement and greater private-sector participation.

Ambassador Dato’ Mohammad Azhar Mazlan identified artificial intelligence, education, manufacturing, goods and services as promising areas for collaboration, emphasising that Malaysia recognised Pakistan’s economic potential and strategic importance. He also highlighted Pakistan’s geographical position as a gateway to Central Asian markets and its predominantly young population as important strengths for future economic cooperation. Referring to opportunities in edible oil and Halal products, he encouraged Pakistani businesses and investors to explore Malaysia, citing Pakistani investment in Halal gelatin production in Malaysia as an example of the potential for successful cross-border business ventures.

The high commissioner further emphasised the importance of pursuing mutually beneficial partnerships, stating that a win-win approach should remain central to bilateral economic engagement. He described Pakistan as a strategic partner for trade and investment and expressed Malaysia’s interest in exploring additional opportunities for cooperation across sectors.

In his address, Federal Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh noted that Pakistan and Malaysia have maintained cordial relations since the early years of Pakistan’s independence, with cooperation extending across multiple fields. He appreciated Malaysia’s impressive progress in economic development, technology and other sectors, and expressed Pakistan’s desire to work even more closely with Malaysia to translate the longstanding bilateral relationship into tangible economic gains.

Sharing his own experience of commercial engagement with Malaysia, the Minister said he had visited the country numerous times and had personally conducted business with a Malaysian company, including in the rice trade. He observed that direct business experience and established commercial relationships provide a strong foundation for expanding bilateral trade, encouraging investment and building lasting partnerships between the two countries.

Turning to future areas of economic collaboration, the Minister identified information technology, artificial intelligence, advanced technology, manufacturing, value-added industries, mining and minerals, agriculture, food processing and Halal products as sectors offering substantial potential for joint ventures and investment.

He noted that Malaysia’s technological expertise and industrial experience could complement Pakistan’s natural resources, workforce, consumer market and emerging business opportunities.

The minister stressed that Pakistan welcomes high-quality Malaysian investment that contributes to industrial development, technology transfer, employment generation and export growth. He invited Malaysian companies to explore commercially viable opportunities in Pakistan and assured them that the Board of Investment stands ready to facilitate investors, support their business plans and coordinate with relevant government stakeholders to address their requirements.

Concluding his remarks, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh invited Malaysian business leaders and investors to visit Pakistan, explore its diverse investment opportunities and develop partnerships with Pakistani counterparts. He reaffirmed that Pakistan is ready to welcome Malaysian investors and facilitate commercially viable initiatives that strengthen bilateral economic relations.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026