PM Shehbaz Receives IIUM Honorary, Meet Malaysian Investors

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been awarded an honorary doctorate in philosophy in leadership and governance of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in recognition of his leadership, public service and contribution to nation-building and Islamic governance.

According to Malaysian State News Agency BernamaThe degree of honor was presented during a special convention ceremony at ISTAC – IIUM -Campus in Kuala Lumpur, officer of ipo constitutional head Tengku Amuan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah. The event coincided with Shehbaz’s three-day official visit to Malaysia.

In his address, Tunku Azizah Shehbaz’s four decades of public service praised by vision, compassion and dedication. She highlighted his initiatives in education and social welfare, including Punjab Education Endowment Fund, which has enabled thousands of students to pursue higher education.

“At a time when the world often prizes image of integrity, his excellence reminds us that good governance is about sincerity, service and steadfastness,” she said, praising Shehbaz’s leadership and Pakistan’s sustained friendship with Malaysia.

In his acceptance address, Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed deep gratitude for the honor and described it as a privilege of being recognized by one of the leading academic institutions of the Muslim world. He said that leadership for him is a sacred confidence that is rooted in honesty, justice and accountability and confirmed Pakistan’s obligation to strengthen academic and institutional cooperation with Malaysia.

He also urged the Muslim world to maintain unity, compassion and moral integrity in tackling contemporary challenges and emphasized to strengthen young people in both countries to serve humanity through education and innovation.

Among the dignitaries present was Malaysia’s Minister of Communications Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Minister of Higher Education Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, IIUM President Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Hussain, Rector Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr. Osman Bakar and Pakistan’s High Commissioner for Malaysia, Syed Ahsan Raza Shah.

The Prime Minister’s visit was made on invitation by his Malaysian colleague, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, as a mutual gesture for Anwar’s official visit to Pakistan in October 2024, emphasizing the growing strength of bilateral relations.

During his visit, Shehbaz also confirmed Pakistan’s obligation to elaborate on economic, trade and technological cooperation with Malaysia in a meeting with a high-level delegation from the Malaysian venture capital company Gobi partners, led by its co-founder and chairman, Thomas G. Tsao.

The Prime Minister said both countries have tremendous potential for cooperation in trade, investment and technology and is working to realize this potential through improved relations with business. With reference to Pakistan – Malaysia business and investment conference, he described it as an encouraging initiative to expand economic cooperation.

PM Shehbaz repeated his government’s decision to create a business -friendly environment and improve the ease of doing business in Pakistan. He noted that Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) continues to play an important role in supporting and facilitating foreign investors.

Prime Minister, who offers Gobi Partners’ confidence in Pakistan’s start -up ecosystem, said targeted reforms are underway to help startups and investors in the early stage through improved investment facilitation and infrastructure. Mobilization of both domestic and international capital to build a sustainable startup ecosystem, he said, is still a top national priority.

Shehbaz highlighted Pakistan’s growing digital economy and said sectors such as fintech, e-commerce and information technology make up the backbone of the country’s development strategy. He invited Malaysian investors to explore opportunities in Pakistan’s expansion of it and artificial intelligence sectors.

The Gobi Partners delegation expressed interest in exploring cooperation in e-commerce and economic technologies and praising the government’s efforts to promote innovation and entrepreneurship.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Ministers Jam Kamal Khan, Rana Tanveer Hussain and Attaullah Tarar, especially assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi and senior officials also attended the meeting.