Putrajaya: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today hosted a luncheon in honor of visiting Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at Seri Perdana. Anwar and Shehbaz arrived together at 12.55 pm, greeted by chants of ‘Welcome to Malaysia’ from students of Sekolah Kebangsaan Putrajaya Presint 11 (3), while dancers from Istana Budaya performed a welcoming dance.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the luncheon was attended by several key ministers, including Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar. Earlier, Shehbaz received an official welcome at the Perdana Putra Complex and held a bilateral meeting with Anwar.

Shehbaz and his delegation arrived in Malaysia for a three-day official visit at Anwar’s invitation. According to a statement issued by Wisma Putra, Shehbaz’s visit is a reciprocal gesture to Anwar’s official visit to Pakistan in October 2024, underscoring the deepening ties between the two countries. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Malaysia and Pakistan have maintained diplomatic relations since 1957, elevating their ties to a Strategic Partnership in March 2019. In 2024, total trade between the two nations reached RM8.07 billion (USD1.76 billion), marking a 25.5 percent increase from the previous year. Malaysia’s primary exports to Pakistan include palm oil, petroleum, and chemical products, while imports from Pakistan comprise agricultural produce, textiles, apparel, footwear, and petroleum products.