Pakistan and Malaysia are set to enhance maritime collaboration through a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), focusing on seafarer training and port-sector cooperation, officials confirmed during recent discussions in the United Kingdom.
The initiative includes exchange programs for marine cadets, allowing Pakistan to send trainees to Malaysian academies, while Malaysia would reciprocate with specialized training for its cadets in Pakistan’s maritime institutions.
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Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry highlighted that the cadet exchange would strengthen long-term cooperation and contribute to the professional development of young seafarers in both nations’ maritime sectors.
In addition to training, Pakistan offered Malaysia access to its digital port solutions, including the fully operational Pakistan Single Window (PSW) platform, aimed at reducing cargo-clearance times and improving trade transparency.
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Chaudhry also proposed expanding operational cooperation on trade routes, including direct feeder shipping lines between Pakistan and Malaysia, which could boost Pakistan’s rice exports and streamline edible oil imports from Southeast Asia.
Both countries agreed to hold technical consultations in the coming weeks to finalize the MoU, define training modules, and establish mechanisms for implementing the cadet exchange program efficiently.