Mahathir shows interest in JF-17, anti-tank missiles

Ag Agencies

ISLAMABAD: Malaysia has expressed its interest in procuring JF-17 Thunder fighter jets and anti-tank missiles from Pakistan, Finance Minister Asad Umar has said, as the Southeast Asian nation’s Premier Mahathir Mohamad inked a raft of agreements on the second day of his visit to Pakistan.

Malaysia has evinced keen interest in the planes and anti-tank missiles from Pakistan, Radio Pakistan quoted the finance minister as saying following delegate-level meetings between Prime Minister Imran Khan and Prime Minister Mahathir at the PM House on Friday. Malaysia has also agreed to Pakistan’s request of showcasing the aircraft at the upcoming Aviation Expo in Malaysia, Umar told reporters. He said the meeting stressed the fast implementation of the already signed agreement on Pakistan’s export of anti-tank missiles to Malaysia. Among the rapid developments taking place during the Malaysian Premier’s trip, are agreements have been reached on business and investment worth hundreds of millions of dollars in diverse fields. Similarly, both delegations also agreed to open branches of their banks in the two countries.

Khan and Mahathir also performed symbolic ground-breaking for the establishment of a Proton automotive assembly plant in Karachi in cooperation with Pakistan’s Al-Haj Group, under which cars and sport utility vehicles would be manufactured and its first car would hit the roads by June 2020.

Five memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for cooperation between the two countries’ private sector companies were also signed on the occasion. Three MoUs were signed between Malaysia’s Edotco Towers and Pakistan’s mobile companies Jazz, Telenor and Zong.

Besides those, a $20 million joint venture in venture capital companies of the two countries, another MoU between Pakistan’s Fauji Meat and Malaysia’s Indahariya Enterprise was also signed for cooperation in the halal meat industry.

As Mahathir arrived at the PM House, Prime Minister Khan greeted him on the second day of his three-day official visit. A tri-services contingent presented a guard of honour to the visiting dignitary. National anthems of Pakistan and Malaysia were played on the occasion.

Mahathir also reviewed the parade as the military band orchestrated ceremonial tunes in the background. The Malaysian Prime Minister planted a pine tree sapling at the front lawn of PM House as a symbolic gesture representing deep-rooted friendship between the two countries.

During the Pakistan-Malaysia Business and Investment Roundtable earlier, Prime Minister Khan and his Malaysian counterpart called for enhancing trade and investment ties between the two countries through private sector participation, partnerships and joint ventures for the mutual benefit. Organised by the Board of Investment (BoI), the event was attended by a large number of businessmen and entrepreneurs from Pakistan and Malaysia.

Mahathir said his country preferred industrial development over agricultural to cope with the challenge of unemployment, and for this purpose they attracted and encouraged foreign investors through various wealth-creating incentives including tax holiday for 10 years.

He said wealth creation was not the job of governments but of businessmen, adding, the government’s business was to facilitate business and industry by providing them with opportunities and necessary infrastructure.

Khan said both countries had decided to formulate a strong Pak-Malaysia Ministerial Level Committee, which would meet regularly to interact and explore trade and investment opportunities. Khan, appreciating Mahathir’s vision, said the way Malaysia developed under his leadership is a model for others — especially Muslim countries — to follow. He said: “Dr Mahathir Mohammad has a clear vision and stance, which non-leaders often do not have and are used to trying to please everyone.”

Khan said the presence of a leader like Mahathir in Pakistan is an honour especially on the historic occasion of March 23, a day when the resolution of Pakistan was presented in 1940 under the great leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. “We will be sad as you will be leaving tomorrow. We wish you could have stayed more in Pakistan,” he remarked.

Afterwards, President Dr Arif Alvi conferred Mahathir with the Nishan-e-Pakistan, the highest civil award of Pakistan in recognition of his extraordinary services and contribution to a steadfast friendship.

While addressing a dinner reception at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, Mahathir thanked Pakistan’s leadership for honouring him with the highest civil award saying that he felt strengthened after this gesture.

When he spoke, President Alvi urged the leadership of Pakistan and Malaysia to take lead for holding a dialogue to address the rising challenges of Islamophobia and xenophobia across the world. The President said the Muslim world was eyeing Pakistan and Malaysia for their role against Islamophobia.