ISLAMABAD — Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu will undertake a three-day state visit to Pakistan from October 20 to 22 at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s Foreign Office announced on Sunday, in a trip that carries both symbolic and substantive weight for the two South Asian nations.
The president will be accompanied by First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed and a high-level delegation comprising ministers and senior officials.
First Presidential Visit in Eleven Years
The state visit is the first by a President of the Maldives to Pakistan in eleven years and assumes special significance as the two countries commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, which were formalised in 1966.
Pakistan and the Maldives enjoy warm and fraternal relations rooted in shared faith, mutual respect, longstanding goodwill and close cooperation at regional and international forums.
Packed Diplomatic Agenda
During the visit, President Muizzu will meet the President of Pakistan, who will also host a state banquet in his honour. He will separately hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
According to the Foreign Office, the two leaders will review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and explore avenues for further strengthening cooperation in:
- Trade and investment
- Health and education
- Tourism and agriculture
- Defence and maritime security
- Climate change
- People-to-people exchanges
The leaders will also exchange views on regional and international developments of mutual interest.
Business Forum to Boost Economic Ties
The visit will feature a Pakistan-Maldives Business Forum aimed at promoting greater interaction between the business communities of the two countries and exploring new opportunities for trade and investment.
A number of agreements and memorandums of understanding covering diverse areas of bilateral cooperation are expected to be signed during the visit, according to the Foreign Office.
The trip underscores Islamabad’s push to deepen engagement with smaller South Asian neighbours and follows recent consultations between the two countries on regional security and stronger bilateral cooperation.
