PRESS RELEASE
High Commissioner of Malaysia Presents Letters of Credence to the President
of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
On 15 March 2023, His Excellency Ambassador Mohammad Azhar Mazlan presented the Letters of Credence by His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah appointing him as High Commissioner of Malaysia to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to His Excellency Dr. Arif Alvi, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in a ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr (Presidential Palace), Islamabad.
On arrival at the helipad of Aiwan-e-Sadr, the High Commissioner was received by the Chief of Protocol and a detachment of the President’s Body Guard. The High Commissioner alighted from the car, received a salute from the Commander of the Body Guard and boarded the horse-driven carriage together with the Chief of Protocol. At the venue of Guard of Honour as trumpeters sounded the fanfare, both of them alighted the carriage behind the saluting dais. Deputy Military Secretary to the President and the Commandant of the President’s Body Guard were on hand to receive the High Commissioner. After the salutations, the Military Band played the National Anthems of Malaysia and Pakistan following which the High Commissioner reviewed the full Guard of Honour.
The High Commissioner was then ushered inside Aiwan-e-Sadr for the Presentation of Credentials to His Excellency the President. Present during the ceremony were Additional Secretary (Administration) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Military Secretary of the President and Chief of Protocol. Also present from the Malaysian High Commission were Madame Amelia Amani Lee Abdullah, spouse of the High Commissioner, Colonel Noraripin, Defence Attache and Mr. Nor Azuan, Third Secretary. After introducing his entourage to His Excellency the President, the High Commissioner was invited for a brief courtesy call on the former in the presence of the Additional Secretary (Administration), Military Secretary to the President and Madame Amelia. During the call, both sides discussed mutual bilateral and regional issues of importance. The call concluded with His Excellency the President presenting a book on Pakistan to the High Commissioner.
The state of relations between Malaysia and Pakistan has been excellent. As strategic partners, both countries have close engagement in trade, investment, education, culture, tourism, defence, and technical assistance in capacity building and human capital development. In 2022, Pakistan was Malaysia’s 30th largest trading partner, 24th largest export destination and 40th largest import source. Among South Asian countries, Pakistan is Malaysia’s 3rd largest trading partner, export destination and import source.
The total trade in 2022 between the two countries was at USD1.8 billion. Malaysia’s exports to Pakistan comprised palm oil and palm oil-based products, agriculture products and manufactured products, chemicals and chemical products, manufacturers of metal and machinery and equipment parts. Malaysia’s imports from Pakistan comprised agricultural products, textile, apparels and footwear, fresh, chilled and frozen seafood, chemicals and chemical products and other manufactured goods. Malaysia’s investment in Pakistan totalling USD6 billion is in the power sector, township development, construction, supplies, telecommunication and financial services. Pakistan has a total investment of USD0.4 billion in Malaysia in chemicals and chemical products, food manufacturing, plastic products, wood and wooden products, furniture, machinery and equipment and textile industry.
The 19th High Commissioner of Malaysia to Pakistan, together with his team at the High Commission, intends to leverage on the excellent state of relations and goodwill between the two nations and take the relationship to a higher level, particularly in new and niche areas in trade, investment and economic cooperation as well as further fostering the longstanding social and cultural ties between the two brotherly peoples.
HIGH COMMISSION OF MALAYSIA
ISLAMABAD
15 March 2023