PUTRAJAYA: Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, who is on a three-day official visit to Malaysia, was given an official welcoming ceremony at Dataran Perdana here on Monday (Oct 6).
Shehbaz, who reached Malaysia on Sunday (Oct 5) night, was received by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim upon his arrival at the venue at 9am today.
Shehbaz then inspected a guard of honour mounted by three officers and 103 members of the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment led by Major Muhammad Akmal Hakim Sabarudin.
Also present at the ceremony were both Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail.
Anwar and Shehbaz are expected to hold a bilateral meeting later in the morning.
Wisma Putra said in a statement that the visit reciprocated Anwar's official visit to Pakistan in October last year.
Shehbaz was accompanied by his Cabinet ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar.
Both leaders are expected to review the progress of bilateral relations and explore new avenues for cooperation, particularly in trade and investment, the halal industry, education, tourism and defence.
They are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
In addition, both leaders will witness the exchange of five memorandums of understanding in the fields of tourism, higher education, halal certification, prevention and eradication of corruption, small and medium enterprises, as well as an exchange of notes on diplomatic training.
Shehbaz will also present Anwar with an Urdu version of the book "SCRIPT: For a Better Malaysia".
An official dinner in Shehbaz's honour will be held at the Seri Perdana Complex tonight.
Both prime ministers are also scheduled to attend the Pakistan-Malaysia Business and Investment Conference.
"The visit is expected to strengthen bilateral relations and foster stronger cooperation in areas of mutual benefit," the statement read.
Malaysia and Pakistan established diplomatic relations in 1957, with ties elevated to a Strategic Partnership in March 2019.
Last year, total trade between Malaysia and Pakistan reached US$1.76bil (RM8.07bil), a 25.5% increase from 2023.
