ISLAMABAD, April 30: Malaysian Home Minister Dato Azam bin Khalid called on President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday and reaffirmed his country’s desire to forge close economic cooperation with Pakistan.

Mr Azam, who is visiting Pakistan in connection with import of Pakistani workforce for various sectors in Malaysia, expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s high-tech documentation system for overseas travel and employment.

Pakistan and Malaysia have signed a contract for employment of 100,000 Pakistanis in the far-eastern country.

On the occasion President Musharraf said Pakistani workers were hardworking and committed and their employment in Malaysia would contribute to the economies of both the nations.

The Malaysian minister praised the quality of digitally prepared and electronically verifiable national identity cards and machine readable passports and said that Pakistan’s technology in the field was in accordance with the international standards.

Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Minster for Labour and Manpower Ghulam Sarwar Khan were also present during the meeting.—APP