During a series of high-level engagements in Kuala Lumpur, Federal Secretary for National Food Security and Research Amer Ali Ahmed and Federal Secretary for Commerce Jawad Paul, along with Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, held meetings with Group CEO of BERNAS Dato’ Dr. Sirajuddin bin Suhaimee, Director General of JAKIM, and Secretary General of Malaysia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Isham bin Ishak. The meetings focused on strengthening rice exports, halal certification standards and bilateral cooperation in food security.
In one of the meetings, Amer Ali Ahmed and Jawad Paul, along with High Commissioner Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, Chairman Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Dr. Syed Murtaza Hassan Andrabi, Director General Department of Plant Protection (DPP) Yasin Murtaza, representatives of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), and officials of the Pakistan High Commission, met with the Group CEO of BERNAS and its management team in Kuala Lumpur to discuss expanding Pakistani rice exports to Malaysia.
The discussions focused on enhancing Pakistani rice exports to Malaysia while ensuring strict compliance with BERNAS quality standards and requirements. The engagement also reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong participation in the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) and underscored the commitment of both sides to expanding bilateral trade, strengthening market linkages and contributing to regional food security.
During a high-level meeting with Dato’ Dr. Sirajuddin bin Suhaimee, Director General of JAKIM, Federal Secretary Amer Ali Ahmed, accompanied by senior officials of the Pakistan High Commission, discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in agriculture and the halal-certified sector. Both sides deliberated on enhancing collaboration in halal certification standards and supply chains, as well as facilitating greater market access and trade in halal-certified agricultural and food products.
The meeting also reviewed progress under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between JAKIM and the Pakistan Halal Authority (PHA), signed in October, and discussed translating the framework into stronger institutional and technical cooperation. Both sides emphasized the importance of sharing expertise, strengthening certification mechanisms and facilitating halal trade to contribute to deeper economic and agricultural ties between Pakistan and Malaysia.
Moreover, Amer Ali Ahmed and Jawad Paul, along with High Commissioner Syed Ahsan Raza Shah and senior agricultural and technical officials from both sides, held a meeting with Datuk Seri Isham bin Ishak, Secretary General of Malaysia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. The meeting focused on advancing bilateral cooperation in the halal agri-food sector, including rice, meat, poultry, fisheries and aquaculture technologies, animal vaccines, biosecurity controls and halal gelatin supply.
Both sides stressed the importance of strengthening institutional linkages and identifying opportunities to facilitate agricultural trade, technical cooperation and knowledge exchange between Pakistan and Malaysia. To advance this agenda, both sides agreed to establish a formal mechanism for continued engagement, beginning with a joint virtual meeting in November this year.
The engagements reflect the shared commitment of Pakistan and Malaysia to building stronger agricultural partnerships, expanding bilateral trade and promoting safe, quality and halal-certified food products.
