KARACHI: Pakistan-Malaysia Friendship Association (PMFA) President Shahid Javed Qureshi has urged the government to review the Malaysia-Pakistan Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (MPCEPA) to improve market access, boost exports and attract investment, saying stronger economic ties with Malaysia could help Pakistan expand its footprint in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) markets.
He said Pakistan needed to move beyond traditional trade patterns and pursue a more competitive export strategy focused on value addition, market diversification and stronger regional integration.
Bilateral trade between Pakistan and Malaysia reached approximately $1.55 billion in 2025, but there remained considerable scope to expand trade, investment and business partnerships between the two countries.
PMFA chairperson stressed that a review of the existing trade framework was needed to address market-access barriers, improve competitiveness and ensure that businesses in both countries could benefit more fully from bilateral economic cooperation. Better access to Malaysia, he said, could provide Pakistani exporters with opportunities to reach wider Southeast Asian markets and diversify export destinations.
He said Pakistani exporters should focus on higher value-added products, including halal food, seafood, branded textiles and leather goods, to improve export earnings and strengthen the country’s position in regional supply chains. Greater attention to product quality, branding, certification and compliance with international standards would also help Pakistani businesses compete more effectively in overseas markets.
“He identified the digital economy, sustainable industries and technology as promising areas for cooperation, urging businesses in Pakistan and Malaysia to pursue joint ventures, technology partnerships and investment opportunities that could support industrial development and create new commercial avenues,” he added.
Qureshi said Pakistan’s strategic geographical position and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) offered opportunities to strengthen regional trade connectivity. By improving transport links, trade facilitation and investment cooperation, Pakistan could develop its role as a commercial bridge connecting Southeast Asia with Central Asia, the Middle East and western China.
He said greater regional connectivity could help Pakistani businesses access new markets, facilitate the movement of goods and encourage investment in export-oriented industries. Realizing this potential, however, would require a supportive trade policy, improved competitiveness and closer coordination between the public and private sectors.
Beyond commercial relations, he called for stronger cooperation in education, professional training, research and tourism. Pakistani students studying in Malaysia provided a foundation for expanding academic exchanges, scholarships and institutional partnerships, he added.
The PMFA has been promoting bilateral engagement through business delegations, exhibitions and dialogue on trade, tourism, education, halal certification and technology.
Shahid Javed Qureshi said sustained engagement between the public and private sectors could help Pakistan and Malaysia translate their longstanding friendship into stronger economic ties, higher-value trade and investment, and new opportunities for businesses and people in both countries.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026