Pakistan President, PM Call For Stronger Ties With Malaysia

By Shakir Husain

HYDERABAD, Aug 22 (Bernama) – Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have called for strengthening relations with Malaysia, with greater focus on trade, investment and cultural links.

The top leaders received Malaysian Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail during his Islamabad visit.

“Welcoming the Malaysian minister and his delegation, the president said Pakistan attaches great importance to its close and fraternal relations with Malaysia, rooted in shared faith, culture, mutual respect and strong people-to-people ties,” a Pakistan government statement said on Saturday.

Zardari called for further strengthening of Pakistan-Malaysia cooperation in law enforcement, counter-terrorism, narcotics control and combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

Issues related to increasing bilateral trade were also discussed during the meeting at the Aiwan-e-Sadr presidential house.

Zardari said Pakistan is keen to explore greater access for Pakistani products such as rice, potatoes, wheat and poultry in the Malaysia market.

Saifuddin informed the Pakistan president that there are 14 flights per week connecting Pakistan and Malaysia, and efforts are under way to further increase the frequency of flights, according to the Pakistan statement.

The Malaysian minister on Friday called on Shehbaz at the Prime Minister House.

Shehbaz said his government is committed to expanding the close and fraternal relationship between Pakistan and Malaysia across all spheres, including security, law enforcement and business, his office said in a statement.

Saifuddin and his Pakistan counterpart Mohsin Naqvi on Friday signed the Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons between Pakistan and Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA