News Detail
Event Title: Chairman Senate Committee on Interior Meets Malaysian Deputy Head of Mission to Discuss Academic Cooperation, Trade, and Bilateral Engagement
Event Date: 2025-07-02
Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control, held a meeting today with Mr. Mohd Syafik Firdaus Bin Hasbullah, Deputy Head of Mission at the High Commission of Malaysia in Pakistan. The meeting took place at the Chairman’s Chamber, Senate Standing Committee on Interior, Senate C Block. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation in the areas of education, trade, tourism, and parliamentary engagement.
The meeting included discussions on initiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between a public sector university in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a Malaysian higher education institution. The proposed arrangement aims to establish a student exchange programme to strengthen educational linkages, foster academic collaboration, and encourage people-to-people connectivity. Mr. Hasbullah appreciated the proposal and expressed openness to exploring institutional partnerships in the academic sector.
The President of the Mardan Chamber of Commerce and Industry was also present in the meeting and held a dialogue with the Deputy Head of Mission regarding potential business and trade opportunities between local chambers and Malaysian enterprises. Mr. Hasbullah informed that he had previously visited Charsadda, Gujranwala, and Peshawar, and confirmed that he plans to visit Mardan in the near future.
The Chairman of the Committee, who also serves as a member of the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce, noted that exports of Basmati rice from Pakistan to Malaysia have shown positive growth in recent months, as reported by relevant trade bodies. Both sides expressed commitment to building upon this momentum by encouraging private sector linkages and institutional facilitation.
The meeting further included a detailed discussion on the international certification of gemstones. The Chairman proposed the establishment of a joint gemstone certification facility in a major economic zone of Pakistan, which would allow local traders to bring stones for polishing, cutting, and certification under Malaysia’s globally recognized standards. Mr. Hasbullah welcomed the idea and acknowledged its value in improving transparency and credibility in Pakistan’s gemstone exports.
Discussions also covered Malaysia’s “My Second Home” (MM2H) programme, under which Pakistani citizens meeting the specified criteria may get a renewable 10-year residency visa. The programme provides opportunities for long-term stays, property ownership, and facilitated avenues for business engagement in Malaysia.
The two sides also deliberated on an upcoming parliamentary delegation to Malaysia later this year, comprising Senators and members of the Senate Secretariat. The Chairman noted that, under existing bilateral agreements, Pakistani delegates would not require visas for travel to Malaysia. Both parties expressed their intention to promote stronger parliamentary engagement and to create wider opportunities for student exchange, academic cooperation, and institutional linkages between the two countries.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman presenting a souvenir to Mr. Mohd Syafik Firdaus Bin Hasbullah as a token of appreciation and goodwill, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Malaysia across multiple sectors.