By Muhammad Luqman
Prime Minister Imran Khan has received a brand new car as a gift from his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad.
The present is a Proton X70, the first premium sports utility vehicle by the Malaysian automotive brand, according to media reports.
The vehicle was handed over to Abdul Razzak Dawood, the PM’s commerce adviser, at a ceremony held at the Malaysian High Commission in the capital, Islamabad.
In a tweet, Dawood said the gift was “a demonstration of the love & respect between the two countries and will further consolidate the excellent bilateral relations.”
In his address at the ceremony, Dawood reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to boost trade and bilateral relations with Malaysia.
“Malaysia’s progress over the past 30 years is remarkable. Today, it is the only Muslim country in the world with a booming automotive production industry,” he said.
The PM’s adviser acknowledged that the current volume of trade between Pakistan and Malaysia was below par. “At present, there is not enough trade between our two countries. It needs to be enhanced and we remain committed to achieving that aim over the next few years,” said Dawood.
In his address, Malaysian High Commissioner Ikram Mohammad Ibrahim spoke of the brotherly ties between the two countries.
“Our relations have grown even stronger under the present Pakistani government. Our prime ministers have met five times over the past year which is a testament to the positive trajectory of our bilateral ties.”
The diplomat expressed Malaysia’s willingness to help Pakistan develop its automobile sector and hoped for an increase in trade between the two countries.
“Lastly, I hope PM Imran Khan enjoys his new Proton car,” he said.
