ISLAMABAD: A luxury car gifted to Prime Minister Imran Khan by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, has arrived in Pakistan and will be handed over to the government in a ceremony at the Malaysian High Commission in Islamabad on Monday.
Mahathir gifted the Malaysian manufactured X-70 Proton to Khan during his three-day official visit to Pakistan in March earlier this year.
A Proton joint venture between Pakistan and Malaysia was first agreed on last year, and was the center-piece of a series of agreements signed during Mohamad’s visit.
“This will go a long way in consolidating the excellent relations between the two Muslim countries,” Razak Dawood, Khan’s adviser on commerce, told Arab News on Sunday.
Dawood will receive the car on behalf of the Prime Minister. A symbolic car key was already presented to Khan by the Malaysian PM at a signing ceremony in Islamabad.
In this file photo, the 2019 Proton X70 SUV is revealed during an official launching ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 12, 2018. (AFP)
The manufacturing and assembly of the Malaysian Proton cars has already begun in Pakistan with a local partner, Al Hajj Automotive.
The Proton plant, near the southern port city of Karachi, is the latest in a series of assembly deals set up in Pakistan by international auto-makers including Volkswagen AG and Hyundai Motors.
The Malaysian-based company, Proton, was established in 1983 and has so far sold 3 million cars worldwide. Proton cars are sold in more than 25 countries including Britain, Singapore and Australia.
Pakistan warmed up bilateral relations with Malaysia after Prime Minister Imran Khan visited the country in November last year. Multiple investment agreements have also been signed in different sectors as part of Islamabad’s efforts to attract foreign investment, to boost a fragile economy and create job opportunities.
The investment projects that Malaysia has promised to carry out in Pakistan include its Edotco Group’s agreements in the telecom sector with local units of China Mobile and Telenor, as well as local mobile group, Jazz.
Other deals include a halal meat agreement signed by the foods unit of Pakistan’s Fauji Foundation conglomerate and a $20 million venture capital agreement between Pakistan’s Fatima Ventures and Gobi Partners of Malaysia.