President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu is scheduled to undertake his first official visit to Pakistan from October 20 to 22, marking a major milestone in bilateral relations between the two countries. This visit signifies the first time a Maldivian head of state has traveled to Pakistan since former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s official trip in May 2015. A high-level delegation, including key cabinet ministers and senior government officials, will accompany the President during the three-day diplomatic engagement.
During the visit to Islamabad, President Muizzu will hold high-level official talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari. The discussions will center on reinforcing bilateral ties across diverse sectors, addressing shared regional interests, and actively exploring initiatives to revive the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Additionally, both leaderships will review collaborative efforts and coordinated stances within multilateral platforms, including the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
A central highlight of the state visit will be the formalisation of approximately 12 bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding across key sectors. Foremost among these pacts is an agreement to launch direct commercial flights connecting the Maldives and Pakistan, aimed at enhancing tourism, business travel, and interpersonal connections. The agreements also encompass institutional frameworks for expanded cooperation in healthcare, higher education, scientific research, and defence engagement.
Further bilateral instruments will address joint development across public finance, technological advancement, parliamentary relations, tourism, climate change adaptation, and state media collaboration. These multi-sectoral agreements reflect a concerted push by both governments to diversify mutual partnerships and formalise institutional exchanges that have remained largely dormant over the past decade.
Diplomats view the trip as a critical juncture for Maldivian foreign policy in South Asia, restoring executive-level engagement with Islamabad after a ten-year hiatus. The outcomes of the scheduled summits and the signing of the extensive agreement package are expected to establish a durable framework for ongoing economic cooperation and regional diplomatic alignment.