Malaysia and Pakistan Deepen Ties in Rice Trade, Halal Certification and Food Security

Islamabad — Malaysia and Pakistan have agreed to enhance cooperation in rice trade and halal certification, aiming to facilitate agricultural exports, improve market access and strengthen regional food security, according to Pakistan’s information ministry.

The agreement emerged from high-level talks in Kuala Lumpur between Pakistani and Malaysian officials, focusing on boosting bilateral trade and expanding food security cooperation.

Bilateral trade between Malaysia and Pakistan is valued at approximately $1.4 billion annually, according to official data. In October last year, the two nations announced a $200 million halal meat trade quota.

During one engagement, Pakistan’s National Food Security Secretary Amer Ali Ahmed, Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul, and representatives from the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) met with a senior official from Malaysian state trading enterprise BERNAS.

The discussions centered on enhancing Pakistani rice exports to Malaysia while ensuring strict compliance with BERNAS quality standards and requirements, the Pakistani information ministry stated.

The engagement reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong participation in the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) and underscored both sides’ commitment to expanding bilateral trade, strengthening market linkages and contributing to regional food security.

Secretary Ahmed and other Pakistani officials met with Dato’ Dr. Sirajuddin bin Suhaimee, Director-General of JAKIM — the Malaysian agency administering Islamic affairs — to review progress under the October Memorandum of Understanding between JAKIM and the Pakistan Halal Authority (PHA).

Both sides highlighted the importance of expertise sharing, strengthening certification mechanisms and facilitating halal trade to deepen economic and agricultural ties between Pakistan and Malaysia, the ministry added.

In a meeting with Malaysian Agriculture and Food Security Ministry Chief Datuk Seri Isham bin Ishak, Pakistani officials explored expanding cooperation in the halal agri-food sector, covering rice, meat, poultry, fisheries, aquaculture technologies, animal vaccines, biosecurity controls and halal gelatin supply, per the statement.

Both sides agreed to establish a formal mechanism for strengthening institutional linkages and identifying opportunities in agricultural trade, technical cooperation and knowledge exchange, beginning with a joint virtual meeting scheduled for November this year.

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