Following a phone call with his Pakistani counterpart, Shehbaz Sharif, this evening, Anwar said he welcomed further investments from Pakistan, particularly in the agriculture, petrochemical, and biomass sectors.

In a Facebook post, he also said Shehbaz would be making his first visit to Malaysia on May 9.

“We also reviewed key areas of collaboration, including trade, education, and research, and agreed to expedite pending matters to advance our shared goals.

“Our discussion also touched on the ongoing crisis in Gaza, as Israel’s violations of the ceasefire continue to undermine peace efforts. We exchanged views and coordinated efforts to support Gaza’s reconstruction and end the violence against Palestinians,” he said.

Anwar made a three-day visit to Pakistan last October, where he reportedly secured RM2.65 billion in potential trade deals for Malaysia.

In November, Malaysian high commissioner to Pakistan, Azhar Mazlan said Malaysia’s chip sector has garnered the interest of Pakistani investors.

This is said to be among new areas of collaboration that the two nations are looking at.

Anwar said he also received a call from Iran’s president, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, and affirmed Malaysia’s commitment to deepening its friendship with Iran while boosting trade and investment.

“Our foreign minister’s visit to Tehran last month marked a positive step in advancing our bilateral ties and cooperation. To build on this momentum, I will ensure the swift and seamless implementation of initiatives to enhance partnerships in investment, trade, education, research, and beyond,” he said.