PUTRAJAYA, Monday, Oct 6, 2025 (WNP): Pakistan and Malaysia on Monday signed six key Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in a range of areas including higher education, halal certification, tourism, anti-corruption, and the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The agreements were exchanged at a formal ceremony held at the Perdana Putra Complex — the Office of the Prime Minister of Malaysia — following delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and his Malaysian counterpart, Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The signing took place during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s three-day official visit to Malaysia, undertaken at the invitation of the Malaysian leader.

Both prime ministers witnessed the exchange of documents, which marked a significant step toward enhancing institutional collaboration and advancing shared development goals between the two countries.

Among the agreements signed was a Memorandum of Understanding between the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) of Malaysia and Pakistan’s Foreign Service Academy to promote cooperation in the training of diplomats. The documents were exchanged by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Malaysian Foreign Minister Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan.

Another MoU was signed in the field of higher education, exchanged between Pakistan’s Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain and Malaysia’s Minister of Higher Education Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir.

In the area of tourism cooperation, Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism Tiong King Sing and Pakistan’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar exchanged the signed documents, reaffirming both nations’ commitment to promoting people-to-people exchanges and sustainable tourism development.

To strengthen collaboration in the halal sector, an MoU on halal certification was signed and 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 cooperation in combating and preventing corruption, with the documents exchanged between Chief Commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Azam Bin Baki and Deputy Chairman of Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau Sohail Nasir.

The sixth MoU focused on promoting collaboration between Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) Pakistan and SME Corporation Malaysia, with the exchange of documents between Rizal bin Dato’ Nainy, Chief Executive Officer of SME Corporation Malaysia, and Syed Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

The signing of these accords underscores the shared resolve of Pakistan and Malaysia to deepen their strategic partnership, enhance economic cooperation, and strengthen institutional linkages in support of mutual growth and prosperity.