Malaysia is the Most Promising Market for Pakistani Investors – PM’s Visit to Open New Chapter of Bilateral Cooperation : H.C Azhar Mazlan

High Commissioner of Malaysia H.E Mohammad Azhar Mazlan looks forward to further growing bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in all spheres in coming months and terms Prime Minister Anwer Ibrahim‘s visit to Pakistan as opening of a new chapter in the mutual relations. He has shared that a number of agreements of promotion of bilateral cooperation will be signed during the visit that will take place soon.

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The High Commissioner met with Pakistani media persons at the high commission and discussed almost whole gambit of Malaysia Pakistan relations and future prospects. Defense Advisor Col Noraripin bin Othman, DHM Syafik Firdaus Hasbullah, Secretary Mr. Zulasri Rosdi were also present while a large number of media persons from print, electronic and social media attended the discussion.

To some questions from this scribe , the high commissioner noted that Malaysia is working on connecting the countries and the regions. Malaysia is ready to connect Turkmenistan Afghanistan Pakistan India gas electricity pipeline to ASEAN. Malaysian oil company Petronas is already working in Turkmenistan where the company has set up two universities to train the youth of the host country.

Petronas has not only done business there but invested $10 Billion in infrastructure and human resource development as well.

In connectivity, the other bright aspect of Malaysia is collaboration with BRI project of China. Mr. Mazlan informed the media persons that Malaysia supports BRI. Malaysian and Chinese companies are working on connecting Singapore with China through Malaysia with High Speed Train. He said we not only link the countries but the regions as well. He said , Malaysia has 15% population of China origin therefore we have good expression of Malaysia China relations.

On visa regime , the High Commissioner replied, Local agents in Pakistan are licensed to recruit the work force that is sent to Malaysia through a systematic mechanism. Gov of Malaysia takes care that the Malaysian employer does not exploit the foreign labor there. There have been few cases of exploitation on which our gov has set up a system that looks after the affected laborers.

On direct flights, Mr. Mazlan shared pleasant information. He said, Batik Airlines of Malaysia is operating 3 direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Karachi. Soon one more flight will be started. Air Malaysia is operating one daily direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Lahore. Pakistan International Airlines has 3 flights from Islamabad.

High Commissioner welcomed Pakistani students, workers and investors to his country and assured a conducive environment for them in his country. He spoke high about the contribution of Pakistani workers in the development in various sectors of Malaysia. He said more than 166 thousand Pakistanis are living in Malaysia and 5 thousand are students. Pakistani workers has sent $250 million remittances to home from Malaysia in one year. Malaysian gov has no objection on sending money back to native countries.

H.C recommends human resource development a key players in the transformation of a country from agri to industrial economy and presents example of his country that faced sever financial crunch in 1998. H.C said , Malaysia invited her diaspora with big sources back to invest in their country.

“We developed our human resources by sending our youth to developed countries to learn how these countries excelled in their respective fields. We initiated transformation from agri economy to industrial one and in few years we stood on our feet again. Same , we recommend for Pakistan, he said.

About Pakistan, High Commissioner said , Pakistanis have great potential but the onus is on them for how to convert this potential into meaningful production to get tangible results. Both countries have great potential but we are not utilizing it. Malaysia can share her experiences with Pakistan in all fields in which we have made progress.

“Malaysia is manufacturing Proton cars whose technology can be further used in aerospace industry. We are producing computers that are reasonable in prices. We have operations of Intel and HP in our country. Malaysia has her own Silicon Valley at Cyber Jaya, our own Alibaba. Our Petronas in in World Top 100 having built twin towers in the capital and having operations in 40 countries from Latin America to Africa and Australia. We are making solar panels. In maritime , shipping one company of Malaysia has more than 100 ships while Pakistan has only 12 ships, H.E Mr. Mazlan continued.

High Commissioner said, Malaysia is the best destination for Pakistani investors. We are transformed into socio economic developed country. This is the best time for investors in Malaysia that provides win win atmosphere to them. Pakistani investors has invested $500 million in Palm Oil, Electronics, Furniture and Textile industry in our country. We welcome more Pakistani investors.

Mr. Azhar Mazlan emphasized that Pakistani investors need to change their mindset regarding the promising international markets. They are supposed to think beyond Middle East, Europe etc. Malaysian companies can forge joint ventures with Pakistani businessmen.

Malaysian Power Generating company is working in Pakistan at Balloki Lahore. Malaysia is ready to cooperate in energy and green energy sector with Pakistan.

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High Commissioner attaches great importance with the geographical position of Pakistan. He said, Malaysia is gate way to ASEAN and Pakistan opens the doors towards Afghanistan and Central Asian States that are land locked. Karachi port is the source of transition to Kabul and from Kabul the CARs can be approached. Both countries do not connect countries only but link the regions.

Mr. Azhar Mazlan welcomed appointment of H.E Amna Baloch as Secretary Foreign Affairs Pakistan. He shared that Ms Amna was H.C in Malaysia when he was in-charge of a division at Malaysian Foreign Ministry. He said, we were in touch mostly via online during COVID pandemic during early 2020 to 2022. He mentioned about Ms Mumtaz Zahra Baloch as well who was additional secretary East Asia at that time. He expressed best wishes for Ms Amna Baloch.

Regarding Defense cooperation , the High Commissioner shared that both countries have joint training and other programs. Since 1984, approximately 800 young officers had training in different sectors including anti-corruption, Islamic finance , audit and others in Malaysia. It is about short courses spanning from two weeks to 3 months.