In a major step toward strengthening bilateral relations, the Maldives and Pakistan signed 20 key agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) today, highlighted by a landmark pact to establish direct flights between the two nations. The signings took place during an official state visit by the Maldivian President and First Lady, who are leading a high-level government delegation to Islamabad.
The bilateral agreements cover a wide range of strategic sectors. Alongside the aviation framework intended to launch direct air connectivity, pacts were formalised in defence cooperation, healthcare, finance, technology, higher education and research, tourism, climate change adaptation, parliamentary cooperation, and media exchange.
The Maldivian delegation, which includes several cabinet ministers, arrived in Islamabad following a departure yesterday morning and was greeted with a red-carpet reception. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif officially received the delegation at the Prime Minister’s residence earlier today ahead of formal bilateral engagements.
The visit, scheduled through tomorrow, marks the first official trip to Pakistan by a sitting Maldivian President in a decade, following former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s visit in May 2015. The mission carries added diplomatic significance as it commemorates the 60th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries.
While in the Pakistani capital, official proceedings include bilateral delegation-level talks, as well as separate high-level meetings between the Maldivian President, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to discuss regional cooperation and the execution of the newly signed agreements.