PM Shehbaz receives IIUM honorary degree, meets Malaysian investors

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been conferred an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership and Governance by the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in recognition of his leadership, public service, and contributions to nation-building and Islamic governance.

According to Malaysian state news agency Bernama, the honorary degree was presented during a Special Convocation at the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC–IIUM) campus in Kuala Lumpur. It was officiated by IIUM Constitutional Head Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah. The event coincided with Shehbaz’s three-day official visit to Malaysia.

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

“His Excellency reminds us that good governance is about sincerity, service and steadfastness,” she said, commending Shehbaz’s leadership and Pakistan’s enduring friendship with Malaysia.

In his address, PM Shehbaz expressed deep gratitude for the honour, describing it as a privilege to be recognised by one of the Muslim world’s leading academic institutions. He said leadership, for him, is a sacred trust rooted in honesty, justice and accountability, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening academic and institutional cooperation with Malaysia.

He also urged the Muslim world to uphold unity, compassion and moral integrity in addressing contemporary challenges, and emphasised empowering the youth of both countries to serve humanity through education and innovation.

Malaysia’s Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Higher Education Minister 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 to Malaysia, Syed Ahsan Raza Shah were among the dignitaries present on the occasion.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit was made on the invitation of his Malaysian counterpart, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, as a reciprocal gesture to Anwar’s official visit to Pakistan in October 2024, underscoring the growing strength of bilateral relations.

During his visit, Shehbaz also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening economic, trade and technological cooperation with Malaysia in a meeting with a high-level delegation from Malaysian venture capital firm Gobi Partners, led by its Co-Founder and Chair, Thomas G. Tsao.

The prime minister said both countries possess immense potential for collaboration in trade, investment, and technology, and are working to realise this potential through enhanced business-to-business linkages. Referring to the Pakistan–Malaysia Business and Investment Conference, he described it as an encouraging initiative for expanding economic cooperation.

PM Shehbaz reiterated his government’s resolve to improve the ease of doing business in Pakistan. He noted that the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) continues to play a vital role in supporting and facilitating foreign investors.

Welcoming Gobi Partners’ confidence in Pakistan’s startup ecosystem, the prime minister said, targeted reforms are underway to assist startups and early-stage investors through improved investment facilitation and infrastructure. Mobilising both domestic and international capital to build a sustainable startup ecosystem, he said, remains a top national priority.

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

The Gobi Partners delegation expressed interest in exploring collaboration in e-commerce and financial technologies, commending the government’s efforts to promote innovation and entrepreneurship.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers including Jam Kamal Khan, Rana Tanveer Hussain, and Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, and senior officials also attended the meeting.