KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday underscored the pivotal role of the private sector in driving Pakistan’s economic growth and fostering stronger trade ties with Malaysia. Addressing the Pakistan-Malaysia Business and Investment Conference alongside Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, he said governments can only provide frameworks, but “the real engine of growth must be powered by private enterprise.”
PM Shehbaz praised Malaysia’s remarkable economic transformation under Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership, calling it “nothing short of a miracle,” and expressed confidence that Pakistan could follow a similar path through joint ventures and investment partnerships. “If entrepreneurs from both countries join hands, we can say goodbye to the IMF forever,” he remarked.
The Prime Minister announced that Pakistan would export $200 million worth of halal meat to Malaysia and invited Malaysian investors to explore opportunities in agriculture, minerals, tourism, and information technology. He also proposed collaboration in processing Pakistan’s world-famous mangoes and developing eco-tourism in the country’s northern areas.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim assured full Malaysian cooperation and encouraged business communities to enhance collaboration under ASEAN frameworks. His brief remarks in Urdu drew warm applause from the audience, reflecting the deep cultural bond between the two nations.
Acknowledging the diplomatic efforts of the High Commissioner of Malaysia to Pakistan, H.E. Dato’ Mohammad Azhar Mazlan, and the Consul General of Malaysia in Karachi, H.E. Herman Hardynata Ahmad, PM Shehbaz lauded their continued role in promoting business linkages and facilitating investment cooperation between the two countries.
Both leaders agreed that the future of Pakistan-Malaysia relations lies in private-sector-driven trade, innovation, and mutual prosperity.
