ISLAMABAD – Chairman of Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman met Deputy Head of Mission at the Malaysian High Commission Mohd Syafik Firdaus Bin Hasbullah to explore opportunities for deeper cooperation between Pakistan and Malaysia.
Two sides focused on strengthening collaboration in key areas including education, trade, tourism, and parliamentary exchanges. A key highlight of meeting was proposal to establish MoU between public university in KP and Malaysian higher education institution.
The initiative would include student exchange programme aimed at fostering academic partnerships and enhancing people-to-people connections. Mr. Hasbullah expressed strong interest in the proposal and indicated Malaysia’s willingness to explore such institutional linkages.
President of Mardan Chamber of Commerce and Industry attended meeting and discussed prospects for trade cooperation with Malaysian diplomat. Mr. Hasbullah, who previously visited Charsadda, Gujranwala, and Peshawar, confirmed plans to visit Mardan in the near future to explore business potential in the region.
Senator Rehman also serves on Senate Committee on Commerce, noted encouraging growth in Basmati rice exports from Pakistan to Malaysia. Both sides agreed to build on this momentum by promoting private sector engagement and institutional support to facilitate trade.
In effort to enhance Pakistan’s gemstone industry, Senator Rehman proposed the creation of a joint gemstone certification facility within a major economic zone in Pakistan. This facility would enable local traders to access cutting, polishing, and certification services under Malaysian standards, boosting international credibility for Pakistani gemstones. Malaysian diplomat welcomed the idea and acknowledged its significance for improving trade transparency.
The meeting discussed “Malaysia My Second Home” (MM2H) programme, which allows eligible Pakistanis to obtain a renewable 10-year residency visa, offering long-term stay options, property ownership, and business opportunities in Malaysia.
Looking ahead, both sides deliberated on planned parliamentary delegation to Malaysia later this year. Senator Rehman noted that, under existing bilateral agreements, Pakistani delegates will not require visas for travel. The two parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening parliamentary engagement and expanding educational and institutional partnerships.