Pakistan, Malaysia sign six accords to boost cooperation in education, tourism, and anti-corruption

PUTRAJAYA: Pakistan and Malaysia on Monday signed six agreements to strengthen bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors, including education, Halal certification, tourism, and anti-corruption. 

The accords were exchanged at a ceremony at the Perdana Putra Complex, the office of the Malaysian Prime Minister, during Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s three-day official visit to Malaysia at the invitation of his counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim.

The agreements were signed following delegation-level talks and a meeting between the two leaders. Pakistan and Malaysia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the exchange of notes between the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) and Pakistan’s Foreign Service Academy to enhance training for diplomats. 

The documents were exchanged by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Malaysian Foreign Minister Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan.

In the field of higher education, another MoU was signed between the two governments, with the exchange carried out by DPM Ishaq Dar and Malaysia’s Higher Education Minister Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir.

Tourism cooperation was formalized through an MoU exchanged by Malaysian Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing and Pakistan’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar.

A separate agreement on Halal certification was signed, with documents exchanged by Malaysia’s Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr. Haji Mohd Na’im Bin Haji Mokhtar and Pakistan’s Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan.

Both countries also signed an MoU to enhance collaboration in combating and preventing corruption, exchanged by Chief Commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Azam Bin Baki and Deputy Chairman of Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau Sohail Nasir.

The sixth accord focused on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), aiming to expand cooperation between Pakistan’s Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and Malaysia’s SME Corporation. The documents were exchanged by CEO of SME Corporation Malaysia Rizal bin Dato’ Nainy and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi.

The six agreements are expected to deepen cooperation, promote economic and educational collaboration, and strengthen institutional ties between Pakistan and Malaysia.