PM Khan invites Malaysian counterpart to visit Pakistan

E-Paper | October 02, 2026

PM Khan invites Malaysian counterpart to visit Pakistan

Dawn.com Published October 18, 2018

Prime Minister Imran Khan and Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Matahir Mohammad. — Photo by Dawn.com

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Prime Minister Imran Khan emphasised Pakistan's "close and cordial" relations with Malaysia in a phone call on Thursday with Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad, Radio Pakistan reported.

PM Khan, highlighting the "need of high-level bilateral exchanges" between the two countries, said that Pakistan and Malaysia should collaborate at an "operational level" so that they could benefit from each other's expertise.

According to Radio Pakistan, Dr Mohammad accepted PM Khan's invitation to visit Pakistan and also invited him to visit Malaysia.

The Pakistani prime minister congratulated his Malaysian counterpart for the Pakatan Harapan coalition's success in Malaysia's general election and "appreciated Prime Minister Mahathir’s vision for Malaysia’s steady economic progress".

PM Khan added that Pakistani government and people have "immense respect" for Matahir as a "statesman and global leader".

Reciprocating PM Khan's sentiment, the Malaysian prime minister congratulated him on PTI's victory in the country's election, Radio Pakistan reported.

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M.khubaib

Oct 18, 2018 04:11pm

good

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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

Oct 18, 2018 04:22pm

Good decision to invite Malaysia's PM to Pakistan to mutually share the ideas to overcome corruption in respective countries. And, also to learn, how Malaysia progressed during Mahathir's previous time in government, etc.

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SYED BAQAR AHSAN

Oct 18, 2018 04:28pm

Example being set for naya Pakistan by inviting great leader.

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Vaif

Oct 18, 2018 04:33pm

IK wants pakistan to come out of chinese strangleholds. IK wants the advise of Mahathir. Very clear.

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Maria enteparia onnuchoriu

Oct 18, 2018 04:37pm

Looks like he trying his best to see if he can get a loan if in case IMF doesn't come through.

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Javed

Oct 18, 2018 04:43pm

It would be a golden opportunity for IK to take Dr. Mahatir as mentor since he single handedly turned Malaysia into a first rate Muslim country.

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Real harmony

Oct 18, 2018 04:54pm

Finding a new iron brother.

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Ravi

Oct 18, 2018 05:00pm

When the country is slipping in WEF rating, IK has great courage for Malaysia to come and invest.

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duh

Oct 18, 2018 05:00pm

And this is news??

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Khalid

Oct 18, 2018 05:06pm

One of the best things PM has done on foreign office front. Well done.

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Zeeshan

Oct 18, 2018 05:18pm

We must learn from this man of Malaysian. He is real cause of Malaysian economic boom.

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Imtiaz Ali Khan

Oct 18, 2018 05:23pm

Love you Malaysia from Pakistan.

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F Khan

Oct 18, 2018 05:27pm

Three advises Mahatir must give him.You are in government get down from the container mode.Stay away from Fawad Choudhry.No U Turns.

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Dost

Oct 18, 2018 05:45pm

Imran should learn from Malaysia decision regarding Chinese investment and take decision as like him. There's should b Pakistan first policy

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Nomansland

Oct 18, 2018 05:47pm

May be they can discuss Chinese loans together !!

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Khopdee

Oct 18, 2018 05:47pm

Good start, when he is here ask him for alms

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Adil Quraishi

Oct 18, 2018 05:57pm

Inviting Dr. Muhatir to Pakistan is a good idea but it's a tall order for Imran Khan to follow in his foot steps. PTI and Imran Khan must now take some concrete steps rather than making tall claims.

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Imran

Oct 18, 2018 06:25pm

Two great leaders

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Khalid

Oct 18, 2018 06:34pm

Mr Mahatir's speech on Palestinians (I believe in the United Nations) is one of the best speeches I have ever seen. Mr Mahatir is a true gentleman and a role model for the world.

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Haq Awaz

Oct 18, 2018 06:54pm

Mahathir can teach much as he was instrumental in transforming the Malaysian economy out of the third world. Imran should also contact leaders of Singapore, Vietnam, S. Korea, and study Finland and Hong Kong.

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Dilruba

Oct 18, 2018 07:02pm

Any chance of Bilateral Loan?

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Ali Sabir

Oct 18, 2018 07:02pm

PM Khan added that Pakistani government and people have "immense respect" for Matahir as a "statesman and global leader", and may we please borrow some money?

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A shah

Oct 18, 2018 07:04pm

Time to abandon Chinese stranglehold

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Alba

Oct 18, 2018 07:21pm

@Anti-Corruption_Pakistani .... The Chinese in Malaysia sold latex rubber to China and China manufactured many products out of it such as latex gloves to hospitals all over the world.

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Skkk

Oct 18, 2018 07:47pm

I would love to see him visiting Pakistan. Most welcome!!!!! Great initistive by IK

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flying star

Oct 18, 2018 07:54pm

excellence idea

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Shahzad

Oct 18, 2018 08:30pm

Dr Mahathir is my favourite politician in this world. IK (my second fav politician) can learn alot from Dr Mahathir's first stint as a PM of Malaysia. He deserves all the credit for turning Malaysia into a decent country it is right now.

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Zuber

Oct 18, 2018 08:36pm

Dr Mahathir is a great leader who forcefully said no to walk out of Chinese investment. Malaysia like Pakistan Is under economic crisis. Work together to see if we can have joint strategy to tackle economic crisis in both the countries.

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Pak Public News

Oct 18, 2018 08:39pm

Thank for information i like you post. Regards: Pak Public News

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Truth

Oct 18, 2018 08:53pm

And now a great leader will visit Pakistan.

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Mahen

Oct 18, 2018 09:03pm

It would be better if IK also invites Modi Sahab, discussions on bilateral trades would solve current situation in Pakistan. Even no need to go imf.

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ECONOMIST

Oct 18, 2018 09:06pm

I think if there can be a real Iron Brother, it is Malaysia not China. China won't harm Pakistan but would leave it to Pakistanis to benefit using their own intelligence. On the contrary, Mahathir will think in the interest of both countries just like IK.

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Bobby Paul

Oct 18, 2018 09:14pm

@Dost Totally agree with you. Pakistan first. Always

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Amit Gaikwad

Oct 18, 2018 09:16pm

@F Khan !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STAY AWAY from FAWAD Chaudhary. yes that is the best advice for PM IK....

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Oct 18, 2018 09:25pm

Dr. Mahatir is a wise and disciplined leader who made Malaysia a prosperous and peaceful country. Pakistan can learn many things from Malaysia, specially in terms of formulating economic policy, reformation of tax structure, institution building, control of corruption and elimination of hate speech for national harmony

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A Patriotic National

Oct 18, 2018 09:32pm

Salam Sir: Indeed a good step forward. A lot to learn from Malaysia and Singapore as well. I am sure it is a public knowledge that Singapore has no natural wealth such as minerals etc. Yet, they have been able to develop the country in such a way that they are considered to be an economic power. One reason for success - NO fight with anyone. Focus on your goals, and let others do what they wish to. NO dirty politics of revenge after revenge at all.

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Shahan

Oct 18, 2018 09:41pm

Mahatir? Umm i somehow feel a U-turn is in progress as Mahatir hates china’s presence in its surroundings .

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Farooq

Oct 18, 2018 09:49pm

Also need to develop trade and educational and technological ties with Germany, one of the few advanced Western tolerant democracies whose political system is not entirely dominated by pressure groups inimical to Pakistan's interests. Remember that Iqbal developed his philosophy of Pakistan as a modern welfare state while studying the works of Goethe in Germany Pakistan and Malaysia need to avoid politics of revenge and divisiveness, and to set up "Truth and Reconciliation" Commissions based on the South African model. Let the law take its course with a presumption of innocence until proven guilty. Avoid drastic punishments and jailing of politicians if they are willing to repatriate ill-gotten gains to the national exchequer. Let them keep enough to maintain a modest upper middle class standard of living in Pakistan. Ask for confiscation of their multiple huge mansions here and in Western and Gulf countries, and convert these to STEM educational centers for overseas students.

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DON'T MESS

Oct 18, 2018 10:13pm

Good to hear, Welcome Dr Sahib

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Jamal Langra

Oct 18, 2018 10:30pm

Pakistan can benefit a lot from Malaysia's expertise in Education, Science, and Technology.

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Winter

Oct 18, 2018 10:53pm

good decision. mr. mahatir has a vast experience and his guidance will prove to be beneficial to the new govt.

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Sameer

Oct 18, 2018 11:50pm

Highly commendable and recommended. Mahathis is a hero in Pk.

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S Zafar Iqbal

Oct 18, 2018 11:50pm

Dr. Mahathir is an extraordinary statesman of great accomplishments; a great man of international repute, who has led Malaysia from a developing country to one becoming a modern developed state. It is wise of Mr. Imran Khan to invite Dr. Mahathir to visit Pakistan. Pakistan and especially Imran Khan can learn a lot from Dr. Mahathir and Malaysia's experience. The fact that Dr. Mahathir has now come back to active politics to save Malaysia from the clutches of unscrupulous and outright corrupt politicians offers Pakistan and Imran Khan some very timely and pertinent lessons to apply to the situation, that Imran Khan has inherited, in Pakistan. Imran Khan can also learn from Dr. Mahathir how to negotiate with China to safeguard Pakistan's national interests.

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Ahsan Gul

Oct 19, 2018 01:49am

@S Zafar Iqbal - Dawn please keep these beautiful and forceful written comments for us all to read and follow. Hopefully, IK will read comments by Mr. Iqbal. Thanks

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Zak

Oct 19, 2018 04:02am

Hope he comes soon.

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YASIR M AZIM

Oct 19, 2018 04:58am

@F Khan i can smell PML-n

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Adnan

Oct 19, 2018 05:13am

I am Pakistani expect living in malaysia. Currently malaysia is itself going through crisis. I hope both country will recover soon.

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PakiSthan

Oct 19, 2018 03:33pm

Great. Now the brotherhood is growing. Pakistan, China, Russia, Turkey, and now Malaysia. Now India will get isolated.

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Guest

Oct 20, 2018 05:16am

Pakistani doing a great job in uniting the ummah

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Oct 20, 2018 09:26am

Wisdom, foresight and integrity are not contagious; you can't "catch" it from someone else.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Oct 20, 2018 02:19pm

Welcome to the club and the clubhouse. Keep it up and hang on tough.

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