Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday vowed to strengthen bilateral relations with the Maldives, as the two countries signed 20 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) during the visit of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.
Muizzu arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday on a three-day visit at the invitation of PM Shehbaz Sharif. The visit marks the first by a Maldivian president to Pakistan in 11 years, and comes as the two countries celebrate the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, established in 1966.
Addressing a joint press stakeout following the signing of 20 wide-ranging MoUs, PM Shehbaz said, “There is no doubt that the two countries [will] keep on strengthening these relations for all time to come.”
The premier extended a “very warm welcome” to the visiting dignitary and his delegation.
PM Shehbaz expressed his “warmest greetings and heartfelt affection to the people of Dhivehi Raajje, the land of islands, a nation whose spirit is as vast as the ocean that surrounds it,” hailing 60 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The prime minister noted that he and Muizzu, in their bilateral and delegation-level talks, discussed “all important issues which have direct bearing between our two brotherly countries and of course, regional and international issues”.
“I am very happy to announce that we had a wonderful session, very productive and very fruitful discussions,” he remarked.
PM Shehbaz noted that the conversations encompassed “economic and trade relations, our strategic defence cooperation, our support for training of our brothers and sisters from Maldives in Pakistan in various walks of life; police, defence, education, health and many other” fields.
The prime minister went on to announce that both sides had agreed to raise their bilateral trade from $13.9 million — “just a fraction of our potential” — to $200m in the next two years.
Highlighting that the two South Asian countries had “very strong” relations, coupled with a “long list of mutual achievements”, PM Shehbaz said both sides noted that their ties “do not reflect the true strength of our economic cooperation”.
Thanking Muizzu for his “personal support in this behalf”, the premier went on to announce that Islamabad would support Malé in promoting the plantation of 5m trees in the Maldives by providing 100,000 olive cuttings and 100,000 seeds of various plant species within a mutually decided timeframe.
Referring to the MoUs signed, he affirmed that he “will be very happy to personally work with [Muizzu] to translate these written MoUs into action with prompt decision-making and speedy implementation”.
The prime minister declared that Pakistan was “absolutely ready to provide technical expertise to various segments of our mutual cooperation and, above all, Pakistan is very happy to learn that Maldives is moving forward speedily to establish data centres in other places”.
“This is great news, and as a matter of good luck, Pakistan has also attained a reasonable level of expertise and professional capability in this field,” he added, noting that the country had set up data centres in various locations. He offered Pakistan’s “experience and our professional capabilities in this behalf” to the Maldives.
PM Shehbaz noted that a large number of Maldivian students were receiving education in Pakistani universities and colleges, particularly in the field of healthcare, and that 250 Pakistani doctors and other paramedics were serving in the Maldives.
“This shall continue in future with bigger numbers so that whatever requirements you have, we as a brotherly country would be more than happy to fulfil those requirements willingly and with utmost sincerity of purpose,” the prime minister said.
Speaking on international developments, PM Shehbaz commended the Maldives’ “unwavering” support for the Palestinian cause, adding that Islamabad remains fully committed to the Palestinians’ right of self-determination and the establishment of an independent state of Palestine.
The premier further said he briefed Muizzu on Pakistan’s principled position on occupied Jammu and Kashmir, declaring Islamabad’s support for a peaceful resolution of the dispute in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
“Till they have won their struggle and gotten the right of self-determination, Pakistan shall continue to support them diplomatically and, of course, support them at all international forums till they become an independent sovereign country as per UNSC resolutions, and their sacrifice will not go to waste at all,” he said.
The prime minister also expressed Pakistan’s “serious concern” over India’s decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance in April 2025, pointing out that it was a violation of an international binding treaty.
“Pakistan’s position is loud and clear and beyond an array of doubt; legally binding treaties must be respected and shared water resources must never be weaponised or used as an instrument of political pressure or blackmailing,” he stated.
PM Shehbaz said Pakistan has made it “abundantly clear at various forums”, including the UN General Assembly last month, that water was a “red line” for the country.
“Waterflows in any canal or ocean, sea or straits, carries trade, commerce, message of prosperity and progress, and not threats, confrontations and conflicts,” he said.
“Water is a lifeline for humanity […] so this should be known to all and sundry that any violation in this behalf will be regarded by Pakistan as an act of war,” the prime minister warned.
Concluding his remarks, PM Shehbaz said Muizzu’s visit had given Pakistan-Maldives relations “new purpose and new momentum”.
He remarked, “The same ocean that touches the shores of Karachi and Gwadar embraces the islands of the Maldives.
“For centuries, its waves have carried traders, scholars and travellers between our lands. Today, they carry the renewed promise of our wonderful friendship whose finest chapters are yet to be written.”
In his comments, Muizzu appreciated PM Shehbaz, the government and people of Pakistan for “their exceptional warmth and gracious hospitality”.
He added that his visit coming on the 60-year mark of Pakistan-Maldives diplomatic relations made it “particularly significant”. The 60 years have been marked by warmth, friendship and shared perspectives, he said.
“This visit takes place after a decade-long interval. It offers us an important opportunity not simply to celebrate the friendship of the past but to define the partnership of the future,” Muizzu said.
Stressing on the close relations between the two countries, he said, “Only two such longstanding friends could have talked so widely and agreed on so much about our future together”.
Muizzu said, for him, the talks represented a “clear shared ambition to move the Maldives-Pakistan partnership into a new era”.
He said the discussions encompassed several sectors including trade and investment; health and education; environment, fisheries and agriculture; youth and sports; policing and defence; training and capacity-building; and tourism.
He said he was pleased about the signing of 20 MOUs. “These memoranda will open new avenues for cooperation among multiple sectors, but agreements are meaningful only when they produce results.
“Our next step, of course, is to translate these understandings into tangible opportunities and meaningful benefits for the people of both nations.”
Muizzu said he endorsed the goal to take the two countries’ bilateral trade quantum from $13m to $200m in two years.
“The Maldives and Pakistan are worlds of untapped potential for each other,” the Maldivian president said.
He reaffirmed that the two countries would take a “firm step in the right direction”, adding that Thursday’s business forum would provide an opportunity to bring together business leaders, inventors and innovators from both countries to turn the friendship into mutually beneficial investments.
He said he was encouraged by the discussions to establish direct flights between Pakistan and the Maldives, adding that direct flights would help support tourism as well.
He further said that the two countries’ leaders saw “considerable potential in halal and Muslim-friendly tourism”.
Muizzu appreciated Pakistan’s scholarships and placements for Maldivian students, adding that the leaders would broaden the opportunities further, especially in artificial intelligence, digitisation and future technologies as well as health.
“We want our next generation to be prepared for the future and be prepared to shape that future.”
Muizzu stressed that climate change was “not an abstract environmental concern” for the Maldives. Instead, he said, “it is a direct challenge to our security, our development and our future”.
He welcomed cooperation with Pakistan in areas of climate resilience, conservation, sustainable waste management and renewable energy. He thanked PM Shehbaz for his announcement of donations to help the Maldives plant 5m trees in five years.
“Our nations share a commitment to advancing common interests through constructive engagements.”
He said the Maldives remained committed to revitalising the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, adding that “rebuilding trust, encouraging meaningful dialogue and strengthening mutual understanding are essential to unlocking the full potential of regional cooperation”.
He further expressed the Maldives’ “unequivocal and steadfast solidarity” with Palestinians and their “legitimate right to self-determination”.
Muizzu also commended Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts “to promote dialogue, de-escalation, humanitarian assistance and a just and lasting peace” in the Middle East.
Concluding his remarks, he said, “For 60 years, Pakistan has stood as a trusted friend of the Maldives.” The two countries have now agreed to “build a new era of partnership on the foundations of our six decades of friendship”, he said.
The Maldivian president was later conferred with an honorary doctorate in politics by the International Islamic University Islamabad.
PM Shehbaz had noted that the degree recognised Muizzu’s “sagacious and wise leadership and your great public service to your people in the Maldives”.
20 MoUs signed
Pakistan and the Maldives on Wednesday signed a series of MoUs aimed at deepening bilateral relations in multiple sectors, including defence, IT, cybersecurity, health, education, social protection, agriculture and tourism, among others.
PM Shehbaz and Muizzu were present at the ceremony where representatives from both sides exchanged the pre-signed documents.
The two countries signed an MoU on cooperation in the fields of information technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital skills, and technology and innovation. An MoU was inked to strengthen cooperation in combating illicit trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs.
The two sides also signed an MoU on social protection as well as on health cooperation and between Maldives Food and Drug Authority and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan.
Both nations also signed MoUs focused on the recruitment of health professionals, strengthening defence ties and maritime security cooperation.
An MoU was signed to boost agriculture cooperation, besides another one on promoting fisheries cooperation.
To promote ties in technical and vocational education, an MoU on collaboration to promote technical and vocational education and training was signed, while another MoU was inked to promote educational cooperation.
The representatives of Pakistan and the Maldives also exchanged MoUs on cooperation in the field of youth and sports development, air connectivity, tourism and in the field of arts, culture and heritage.
The MoUs were signed between the National College of Policy and Law Enforcement of the Maldives Police Service and National Police Academy, Islamabad; Civil Service Commission of Maldives and the Federal Public Service Commission of Pakistan; and Civil Service Commission of Maldives and Civil Service Academy (CSA) of Pakistan.
In order to boost commercial engagement, an MoU was signed between the Maldives State Trading Organisation (STO) and Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) for cooperation in trade of agriculture commodities, food and other products, besides signing another pact aimed at boosting cooperation in the field of environment.
Prior to the MoU signing ceremony, Muizzi was welcomed at the Prime Minister House with a guard of honour. He held introductions with federal ministers while PM Shehbaz greeted the Maldivian delegation.
According to a statement by PM Office (PMO), the prime minister extended a “warm welcome to the esteemed guest”, followed by a guard of honour by smartly turned-out contingents of all three armed forces.
The visiting dignitary also planted a sapling at PM House, and prayers were offered for the progress and prosperity of both countries.
An earlier statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) said Muizzu will meet President Asif Ali Zardari and will also hold “restricted and delegation-level” talks with PM Shehbaz.
A Pakistan-Maldives Business Forum will also be held during the visit to promote interaction between the two countries’ business communities and explore opportunities for trade and investment.
Meeting with Dar
Earlier in the day, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called on Muizzu, welcoming him and his delegation to Pakistan, FO said on X.
Dar “underscored the importance of expanding bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, education, climate change and tourism”, FO said.
DPM Dar also welcomed the Maldivian business delegation in the Maldives-Pakistan Business Forum and “expressed hope that B2B engagements would yield concrete trade and investment opportunities”.
Muizzu, speaking to Dar, “expressed Maldives’ desire to deepen its close relations with Pakistan and explore new avenues of mutually beneficial cooperation”, FO said.
Separately, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry held a meeting with Maldivian Minister for Homeland Security Ali Ihusan and exchanged views on enhancing bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries, a statement by the interior ministry said.
According to the statement, the two agreed to promote cooperation on immigration and to curb human smuggling and organised crime.
It quoted Chaudhry as saying: “Pakistan values sharing experiences and security cooperation with friendly countries to promote peace and stability in the region. Pakistan wants to strengthen bilateral cooperation with the Maldives in the areas of law enforcement and internal security.”
He stressed the need for cooperation between the two sides to tackle the challenges of illegal immigration and human smuggling and assured the visiting dignitary on Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s behalf of “all-possible assistance for enhancing bilateral cooperation”.
Last month, the Maldives’ parliamentary speaker Abdul Raheem Abdullah met with Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir in Rawalpindi.
In 2015, former Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom undertook a two-day state visit to Pakistan on May 6-7 at the invitation of then-PM Nawaz Sharif.
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