Malaysian High Commissioner Delivers Academic Discourse at NUML

Islamabad, The Gulf Observer: His Excellency Ambassador Dato’ Mohammad Azhar Mazlan, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Pakistan, delivered an academic discourse session with students at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad.

Ambassador Dato’ Azhar was accompanied by Mr. Mohammad Syafik Firdaus Bin Hasbullah, Counsellor, and Mr. Muhammad Zulasri Bin Rosdi, First Secretary of the High Commission. Upon arrival, the High Commissioner was received by Maj Gen (Retd) Shahid Mahmood Kayani HI(M), Rector of NUML. The event was attended by faculty members, administrative staff, and a large number of students.

During his address, Ambassador Dato’ Azhar provided a comprehensive overview of Malaysia’s historical development, its longstanding bilateral relations with Pakistan, and key economic sectors including palm oil, semiconductors, aerospace, and the halal industry. He also recapped Malaysia’s role as ASEAN Chair in 2025, highlighting the country’s priorities in promoting regional stability, economic growth, and strengthening ASEAN’s engagement with South Asia.

The High Commissioner elaborated on Malaysia’s foreign policy priorities and emphasized the significance of the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Program (MTCP) in fostering capacity-building and development cooperation between Malaysia and Pakistan. He informed participants that approximately 800 Pakistani officials have benefited from MTCP courses in Malaysia.

Education featured prominently in the session, with Ambassador Dato’ Azhar encouraging Pakistani students to explore higher education opportunities in Malaysia, citing its internationally recognized academic standards and supportive learning environment. He noted that as of 2026, nearly 7,000 Pakistani students are enrolled in Malaysian universities.

In his vote of thanks, Brig. Muhammad Rafique Khan, Director General of NUML, warmly welcomed the High Commissioner and expressed gratitude for his distinguished visit. He described the occasion as historic, marking the first visit of a Malaysian High Commissioner to NUML since the university’s establishment.

Brig. Rafique appreciated the High Commissioner’s insightful address on Pakistan-Malaysia bilateral relations, noting its alignment with NUML’s mission of promoting languages and intercultural understanding. He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to enhancing academic collaboration with Malaysian institutions through joint research initiatives, exchange programs, seminars, and scholarly publications. He also acknowledged the contributions of the Malaysian High Commission, NUML faculty, and students in making the engagement meaningful.

The session concluded with an interactive question-and-answer segment, followed by the serving of Malaysian national dishes, including Nasi Lemak, Mee Goreng Mamak, and Karipap pastries.

The event forms part of the Malaysian High Commission’s ongoing efforts to deepen bilateral ties through educational, cultural, and economic engagement, while fostering stronger people-to-people connections between Malaysia and Pakistan.