Pakistan, Malaysia Boost Trade, Investment and Peace Talks

PM Shehbaz Sharif and Anwar Ibrahim agree to maintain momentum in Pakistan-Malaysia ties, strengthen trade and investment, and cooperate on Middle East peace, while signing a sentenced-persons transfer pact. PM Shehbaz, Malaysian counterpart vow to deepen ties, discuss Gulf situation and regional peace Reaffirms commitment to further strengthening ties with Malaysia in security, trade and other sectors Reiterates Islamabad's resolve to work with Malaysia for Middle East peace Anwar lauds Shehbaz, Asim Munir for advancing regional peace efforts Pakistan, Malaysia sign sentenced-persons transfer pact amid law-enforcement cooperation ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral cooperation and resolved to maintain momentum in ties, particularly by strengthening trade and investment relations, while discussing regional developments, including the situation in the Gulf. During a telephone conversation, the two leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to working closely on regional peace efforts and agreed to meet at a mutually convenient time in the near future, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office. Islamabad: 21 August 2026. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation, earlier this evening, with H.E. Dato' Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia. During their warm and cordial conversation, the Prime Minister inquired about Dr. Anwar… pic.twitter.com/PjLPswPHjq — Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) August 21, 2026 PM Shehbaz inquired about Anwar's health and wished him a swift recovery. The Malaysian prime minister praised Pakistan's regional peace efforts and expressed gratitude to PM Shehbaz and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their leadership in advancing those efforts. PM Shehbaz thanked his Malaysian counterpart for Kuala Lumpur's consistent support for Pakistan's regional peace efforts and reaffirmed Islamabad's resolve to continue working closely with friendly and brotherly countries, including Malaysia, to advance prospects for peace in the Middle East. The two leaders also resolved to maintain the momentum in bilateral cooperation, with particular emphasis on enhancing trade and investment ties. PM Shehbaz reiterated his invitation to Anwar to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience. Pakistan, Malaysia vow to deepen ties across all spheres In a related development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to further strengthening close and fraternal ties with Malaysia across all spheres, including security, law enforcement, trade and investment. The Prime Minister's Office said Malaysian Home Minister Dato' Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail called on PM Shehbaz at the Prime Minister's House in Islamabad. H.E. Dato' Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Minister of Home Affairs of Malaysia, calls on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House. Islamabad, 21 August 2026. pic.twitter.com/HCKyCQWDDZ — Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) August 21, 2026 During the meeting, the prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to further strengthening close and fraternal relations between the two countries across all spheres, including security, law enforcement, trade and investment, according to the PMO. 'The regional situation was also discussed during the meeting. In this context, the prime minister appreciated Malaysia's support for Pakistan's regional peace efforts,' the statement said. Islamabad: 21 August 2026. H.E. Dato' Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Minister of Home Affairs of Malaysia, called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House, Islamabad, this afternoon. Welcoming the Malaysian Home Minister, the Prime Minister… pic.twitter.com/ku47zF9pYZ — Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) August 21, 2026 Malaysian Home Minister Ismail expressed his country's keen desire to further strengthen its robust ties with Pakistan. The two sides also advanced cooperation in legal and law-enforcement matters as Malaysian Home Minister Dato' Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi signed an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons between Pakistan and Malaysia. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif witnessed the signing of the Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons between Pakistan and Malaysia, signed by the Home Minister of Malaysia H.E. Dato' Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi.… pic.twitter.com/NHveTKvbA2 — Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) August 21, 2026 The agreement was signed days after the arrest of around 300 foreign nationals allegedly involved in IT-related fraud cases in Pakistan.