The government of Pakistan has just received a gift from Malaysia - a brand new Proton X70.

This follows a promise made by Malaysia's Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to his Pakistan counterpart Imran Khan when he visited Pakistan for the country’s Resolution Day Celebrations in March this year.

Yesterday, the Malaysian car manufacturer delivered a Proton X70 to the government of Pakistan.

Representing Malaysia at the handover ceremony was Malaysia's High Commissioner to Pakistan Ikram Mohammad Ibrahim and Proton's Investment and Promotion Director Mohd Khalid Yusof.

Taking delivery of the vehicle on behalf of the Pakistan government was Abdul Razak Dawood, advisor to the Prime Minister for Commerce, Textile, Industry & Production, and Investment of Pakistan.

Also present was Al-Haj Shah Jee Gul Afridi, chairperson of Alhaj Automotive, which is the official distributor for Proton vehicles in Pakistan.

Since its last launch last December, the Proton X70 has produced more than 26,000 units and export sales have begun in Brunei.

Work is underway at a Greenfield site in Karachi to build a new assembly plant that will be owned and operated by Alhaj Automotive.

Production activities are currently scheduled to begin in 2021 with plans being formulated for the assembly of several models in the country.

The new CKD assembly plant in Karachi will be built with an initial investment of US$30 million and will create 2,000 direct employment opportunities in its first three years of operations.

It is estimated that a further 20,000 indirect jobs will also be created as a result of the new plant being commissioned.

“Proton sees a lot of potential in Pakistan and as Malaysia is the only Muslim country to have its own automotive brand. Both our countries are natural partners that have so much to share with each other," Mohd Khalid said.

"The Proton X70 has won several awards at home and we hope that eventually, it can accomplish the same feats when it arrives here,” he added.

Ikram said: "Such commercial activities will contribute towards fostering closer and stronger economic ties between the two brotherly countries. Malaysia certainly looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Imran Khan when he arrives in Kuala Lumpur for the 2019 KL Summit later this week.”