Report Tazeen Akhtar with Raja Ghulam Farid on Camera
ISLAMABAD : 06 August 2025 – Pakistan and Malaysia are looking forward to the official visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the end of this year as a starting point of newer and higher level of bilateral strategic cooperation in all sectors. It will be a reciprocal visit after Malaysian Prime Minister visited Pakistan in Oct last year.
The sides intend to work on forging a collaboration in Education, Tourism and Anti Corruption as the High Commissioner of Malaysia and Minister Information of Pakistan shared their views in a forum today.
The High Commission of Malaysia in Islamabad hosted the 3C Forum: Culture, Cuisines & Connections, a special engagement featuring alumni of the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) and former students of Malaysian universities.
The event was officiated by the High Commissioner of Malaysia to Pakistan, H.E. Ambassador Dato’ Mohammad Azhar Mazlan, and graced by H.E. Mr. Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan.
Malaysian education systems have played major role in the personality building of many students who later rose to notable positions in the world. One example of MTCP was Ambassador of Myanmar to Pakistan who was present in the event. Field Marshal COAS Pakistan General Asim Munir had a course in defense studies in Malaysia in the begining of his career.
The forum brought together a diverse group of attendees, including the Dean of Diplomatic Corp, Heads of Missions from ASEAN countries, Pakistani government officials, MTCP alumni, media professionals, and members of academia. This people-to-people initiative aimed to deepen Malaysia–Pakistan bilateral ties through cultural exchange, alumni diplomacy, and enhanced mutual understanding.
During the event, guests were shown series of corporate videos promoting Malaysia’s education system, the Visit Malaysia 2026 initiative, and the wide-ranging impact of the MTCP, which has benefited over 37,000 participants from 144 countries since its inception in 1980, including more than 800 Pakistani professionals across various sectors.
Ambassador Dato’ Azhar Mazlan, in his keynote remarks, highlighted the growing importance of alumni networks as strategic assets in fostering long-term diplomatic, educational, and economic partnerships. He said, we are passing through a turbulent time with a lot of uncertainty in the world. Therefore we need to build bridges, enhance cultural and P2P cooperation.
He also emphasized Malaysia’s aspiration to be a centre of excellence in higher education and technical cooperation, underscoring its strong performance in global university rankings and niche sectors such as the halal industry, Islamic finance, aerospace, and semiconductors.
The host H.C shared information about the achievements of his country in tourism, and governance sectors as well. He said , Malaysia sends officers to learn from the experiences of other countries like Japan, Korea, USA, EU. The officers, on return, contribute in our nation building.
He discussed anti corruption approach of his country. He said Malaysia has a zero tolerance for corruption. Malaysian government is steadfast on elimination of this menace from the state.
Malaysia attaches great importance towards tourim cooperation. The High Commissioner , astonished the guest by sharing that his country is expecting 56 Million tourist from around the globe in 2026, that has been declared the Year of Tourism.
He said, Malaysian tourism industry has more than 4 Million workers. He expressed best wishes for Pakistani tourism. He mentioned the URAAN Pakistan program and said, Pakistan intends to promote tourism and Malaysia is ready to collaborate in this regard.
Minister H.E. Mr. Attaullah Tarar, in his address, spoke highly about the tourist attractions of Malaysia and said, the slogan Malaysia Truely Asia has become a global slogan now. Pakistan can learn from the Malaysian experiences in tourism sector.
He said, both countries can cooperate in anti corruption, Islamic Finance, Islamic Banking.
He recalled his personal visit to Malaysia, where he experienced firsthand the warmth of Malaysian hospitality and the country’s robust tourism offerings. He mentioned the names of the tourist sites that he visited.
On lighter note, the Minister said, “I will work freely for the marketing of Malaysian tourism.”
He noted that Malaysia’s integration of culture, heritage, and modern development offers a valuable model for countries like Pakistan.
The Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Malaysia, referencing the successful Official Visit of Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Pakistan in October 2024, which revitalized cooperation in trade, investment, education, and the digital economy.
He said both countries have many commonalities that can be highlighted and exploited to strengthen the mutual bonds.
Minister Tarar also expressed optimism about the forthcoming Official Visit of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to Malaysia later this year, which is expected to further enhance strategic collaboration, particularly in high-tech sectors, TVET cooperation, and tourism exchange.
He emphasized the need to capitalize on platforms like the MTCP and alumni networks to translate goodwill into tangible outcomes.
A highlight of the forum was the alumni panel discussion, where former MTCP participants and graduates of Malaysian universities shared insights on their experiences in Malaysia and their current contributions to Pakistan’s development. This was followed by an engaging Q&A session, promoting interactive dialogue among stakeholders.
The event concluded with a networking high tea featuring Malaysian cuisine, allowing guests to further engage and explore areas of potential cooperation. The 3C Forum served as a meaningful platform to celebrate shared values, expand alumni engagement, and contribute to the strengthening of Malaysia–Pakistan relations through soft diplomacy and cultural connectivity.
