Minister of Home Affairs of Malaysia, H.E. Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution bin Ismail, along with a delegation, called on Chairman Senate of Pakistan, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, at Parliament House, Islamabad, today.
During the meeting, the Chairman Senate warmly welcomed the Malaysian Interior Minister and underscored the historical, brotherly and cordial relations between Pakistan and Malaysia, rooted in shared religious, cultural and historical bonds and strong people-to-people contacts.
The Chairman recalled his longstanding association with Malaysia through his visits in different capacities, including as former Prime Minister, former Speaker of the National Assembly and current Chairman Senate. He further recalled his recent visit to Malaysia as Chairman Senate, during which he participated in the Global Muslim Business Forum and was designated as its Patron-in-Chief. He noted that these interactions had contributed to strengthening parliamentary and bilateral ties between the two countries. The Chairman also recalled his association with the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC) and appreciated that H.E. Dato’ Seri Johari Abdul, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malaysia, had recommended his name to serve as ISC Founding Chairman.
Chairman Senate highlighted the contribution of Pakistani students and the Pakistani diaspora in Malaysia, noting that around 5,000 Pakistani students are currently pursuing higher education in Malaysian universities. He said that the Pakistani community in Malaysia was an asset and was contributing positively to the country's economic and social development.
Recalling the visits of Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Pakistan in 2024 and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif's visit to Malaysia in 2025, the Chairman said that the frequent exchange of high-level visits had imparted renewed momentum to bilateral relations. He described the Malaysian Interior Minister's visit as another important milestone in the continuing high-level engagement between the two brotherly countries.
Chairman Senate expressed Pakistan's keen desire to welcome His Majesty the King of Malaysia and Her Majesty the Queen to Pakistan, saying that the people of Pakistan looked forward to receiving Their Majesties. He also expressed hope for the early visit of the Foreign Minister of Malaysia to Pakistan and the convening of the next session of the Joint Ministerial Commission.
The Chairman welcomed the signing of the Treaty on the International Transfer of Prisoners during the Malaysian Interior Minister's visit and expressed hope for further progress on the Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, terming these important steps towards strengthening institutional and legal cooperation between the two countries.
Discussing economic cooperation, Chairman Senate emphasized the need to translate the excellent political relations between the two countries into greater trade, investment and business-to-business cooperation. He highlighted the potential offered by Pakistan's Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) as a one-window platform for facilitating foreign investment and invited Malaysian investors to benefit from investment opportunities in Pakistan.
He further highlighted Pakistan's strategic geographical location and its potential to serve as a gateway for Malaysian businesses to Afghanistan, Central Asia and Western China, thereby providing opportunities for enhanced regional connectivity and trade.
The Chairman also emphasized the potential for cooperation in the semiconductor sector, noting Malaysia's impressive progress in this field and Pakistan's interest in developing mutually beneficial collaboration in the sector.
Referring to Pakistan's young population, Chairman Senate said that approximately 60 percent of Pakistan's population comprises youth, representing a significant pool of human resources. He expressed Pakistan's readiness to contribute towards Malaysia's manpower requirements, including in areas such as security guards, where Pakistani personnel could make a valuable contribution.
The Chairman appreciated the steady progress in Pakistan–Malaysia defence cooperation and expressed Pakistan's readiness to further strengthen cooperation in defence production and to provide defence equipment and armaments according to Malaysia's requirements.
The Malaysian Interior Minister appreciated Pakistan's warm hospitality and reaffirmed Malaysia's desire to further strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the shared resolve to further deepen Pakistan–Malaysia friendship and cooperation, including through enhanced parliamentary, political, economic, educational, defence and people-to-people contacts.
The meeting was also attended by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, parliamentary leaders representing various political parties and the Minister of State for Interior.
