ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Malaysia on Friday agreed on a roadmap to deepen trade and investment relations, identifying key areas of cooperation at a business conference.

Malaysian High Commissioner Dato Mohammad Azhar Mazlan, who led the ‘Malaysia-Pakistan Business Engagement 2026’, said bilateral trade could be increased substantially from $1.5 billion to $5bn through enhanced commercial engagement and greater private sector participation.

He stressed the need to translate the longstanding friendship into stronger trade and investment partnerships, noting Pakistan’s importance as a major South Asian trading partner.

He identified artificial intelligence, education, manufacturing and services as promising areas for collaboration, noting that Pakistan’s geographical position as a gateway to Central Asian markets and its young population were major strengths.

Referring to opportunities in the edible oil and halal products sectors, he encouraged Pakistani businesses to explore Malaysia, citing Pakistani investment in halal gelatine production there as an example of successful cross-border ventures. He said a win-win approach should remain central to economic engagement.

Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh said Pakistan and Malaysia shared considerable potential to expand commercial engagement, develop joint ventures and strengthen their presence in regional and global markets.

He identified information technology, artificial intelligence, advanced technology, manufacturing, value-added industries, mining and minerals, agriculture, food processing and halal products as sectors offering substantial potential for joint ventures.

He said Malaysia’s technological expertise could complement Pakistan’s natural resources, workforce and large consumer market. Pakistan, he added, welcomed high-quality Malaysian investment that contributes to industrial development, technology transfer, employment generation and export growth.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2026