Lawson, who took over as coach last August, has been criticised in Pakistan after series losses to South Africa and India.
Malik said it was unfair to draw comparisons between Lawson and his popular predecessor, Bob Woolmer, who died last March during the World Cup.
"Woolmer came to us having worked more than five years with the South African team. He was very experienced and he had his own style of coaching," Malik told reporters.
"Lawson in contrast is in his first year in charge of an international team and he is learning. He has his set of ideas on how the team should work.
"We need to give him more time for consistently good results."
Malik also supported Lawson's suggestion to have a sports psychologist work with the team.
"Anything or anyone which can improve the team mentally and physically should be tried out," Malik said ahead of Monday's first one-dayer against Zimbabwe.
"We will sit down and reach a consensus on having a sports psychologist."
(Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
