By Rice News Today

Key Takeaways:

• Pakistan and Malaysia are working to strengthen rice trade and agricultural cooperation.
• BERNAS quality standards remain central to discussions on expanding Pakistani rice exports.
• Halal certification cooperation is being pursued to facilitate wider market access for Pakistani food and agricultural products.
• Cooperation also covers meat, poultry, fisheries, aquaculture, biosecurity and other halal food sectors.
• A joint virtual meeting is planned for November 2026 to continue the engagement.
• The latest discussions create a broader framework for Pakistan’s agricultural exporters to deepen market links with Malaysia.

Pakistan and Malaysia have agreed to strengthen cooperation on rice exports, halal certification and agricultural supply chains, as both sides seek to expand food and agricultural trade and improve market access.

The understanding followed a series of high-level meetings in Kuala Lumpur involving Pakistan’s Federal Secretary for National Food Security and Research Amer Ali Ahmed, Federal Secretary for Commerce Jawad Paul and Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Syed Ahsan Raza Shah with senior Malaysian officials from BERNAS, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

Rice Exports at the Center of Discussions

A key meeting was held with BERNAS Group CEO Dato’ Dr. Sirajuddin bin Suhaimee and his management team to discuss opportunities for expanding Pakistani rice exports to Malaysia.

The Pakistani delegation included representatives from the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Department of Plant Protection, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) and the Pakistan High Commission.

Discussions focused on increasing Pakistani rice exports while ensuring compliance with BERNAS quality standards and requirements, making quality and regulatory compliance an important part of efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s position in the Malaysian rice market.

The engagement also reaffirmed Pakistan’s participation in the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) and highlighted the importance of stronger business linkages, bilateral trade and regional food security.

Halal Certification Could Support Wider Market Access

Alongside rice, halal certification was a major area of discussion.

Pakistani and Malaysian officials reviewed progress under the memorandum of understanding between JAKIM and the Pakistan Halal Authority and discussed ways to strengthen technical and institutional cooperation.

The discussions included sharing expertise, improving certification mechanisms and facilitating market access for halal-certified agricultural and food products.

For Pakistani exporters, stronger cooperation in this area could support wider access to Malaysia’s halal food market, particularly as agricultural trade discussions increasingly extend beyond individual commodities.

Cooperation Extends Beyond Rice

The talks also covered a broader range of agricultural and food sectors, including meat, poultry, fisheries and aquaculture technologies, animal vaccines, biosecurity controls and halal gelatin.

Both sides emphasized stronger institutional links, technical cooperation and knowledge exchange as part of efforts to facilitate agricultural trade between Pakistan and Malaysia.

November Meeting Planned

Pakistan and Malaysia have agreed to establish a formal mechanism for continued engagement on agricultural trade and technical cooperation.

The process is expected to begin with a joint virtual meeting in November 2026, providing another platform to advance discussions on agricultural market access, certification and cooperation.

For Pakistan’s rice industry, the discussions are particularly relevant because Malaysia is an established destination for Pakistani rice and BERNAS compliance remains an important consideration for access to the Malaysian market.

The latest engagement therefore goes beyond a single trade discussion, bringing together rice exports, quality compliance, halal certification and broader agricultural cooperation under a continuing Pakistan-Malaysia trade dialogue.

Published by: Rice News Today
Location: Punjab, Pakistan

Editorial Note: This report has been independently compiled and edited by Rice News Today from available government, industry and market information. It is intended as a market-news report and does not represent an official statement by any government department or organization.

Published Date: September 28, 2026