Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced that he had issued instructions for direct flights between Pakistan and the Maldives.
The premier was addressing the Pakistan-Maldives Business Forum, attended by visiting Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday for a three-day trip at the invitation of PM Shehbaz.
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.
PM Shehbaz said, “I want to say that connectivity is very important. We don’t have direct flights from Malé to Islamabad or Karachi, so this air link is very important.
“I have already given instructions to our ministry of civil aviation to prepare a quick feasibility [study], be it Pakistan International Airlines, or any other airline in Pakistan, to find the ways and means to take the first flight comprising tourists [and the] business community to Malé,” he announced.
The premier said he had been informed by President Muizzu that he gave instructions “to his airline to work out a quick plan to start flights from [the] Maldives to Pakistan”.
“I have given instructions to our civil aviation department to immediately invite a delegation from [the] Maldives and work out a plan whereby we can start these air flights between the two countries as early as possible,” PM Shehbaz added.
Moreover, the premier highlighted the importance of maritime connectivity, noting that unless there is a reliable direct shipping schedule from Karachi or Gwadar to Male, “we will not be able to meet our targets efficiently and effectively.”
He added that once Muizzu returned to his country, a delegation of Pakistani government officials and businessmen would be sent to Malé. He said that the delegation would arrive within the next week or so.
Calling Muizzu a “very sincere friend of Pakistan”, the premier hailed his visit as a “turning point in further strengthening our bilateral, brotherly relations” and a “game-changer in terms of promoting our bilateral trade and investment portfolios”.
“I would like to convey this message to our great entrepreneurs, traders, investors and businessmen from both [the] Maldives and Pakistan,” he added. “Here is an opportunity we can really convert into … a concrete action plan.”
Citing figures provided by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, PM Shehbaz said that the trade volume between Islamabad and Malé is approximately $13 million.
“My brother, President Dr Muizzu, on my request, readily agreed to make a firm understanding to increase our bilateral trade from $13m to $200m in the next two years, and now it’s all up to us to make use of this opportunity, do our homework and make full preparation to achieve these targets through joint efforts and very close coordination,” the prime minister stated.
Taking the podium, President Muizzu echoed PM Shehbaz and urged the establishment of an air corridor between Pakistan and the Maldives.
“In this regard, I am pleased to announce that Maldivian, our national airline, aims to establish [a] direct air link between Male and Karachi soon,” he announced. “This service will make travel easier for the people of our two countries, creating new opportunities for trade and tourism.”
He thanked PM Shehbaz for taking the time to attend the forum and said that his presence was “a testament to the close friendship and our shared commitment to strengthening economic cooperation”.
“It is such a great pleasure for me to be with you today in Islamabad. And particularly to address a gathering of those who drive enterprise, investment, and economic opportunity in our two countries,” he added.
“As we mark 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the relationship between the Maldives and Pakistan is rooted in deep fraternal affection, and above all, in the enduring bond of our Islamic faith.”
Muizzu noted that while Islamabad and Male had strong political solidarity and diplomatic trust, their economic relationship had yet to reach its full potential.
“We must now define the ambition of our future,” the Maldivian president said. “The time has come to transform the strength of our friendship into a new era of trade, investment, and shared prosperity, which is why yesterday Prime Minister Sharif and I agreed to enhance our bilateral trade to $200m over the next two years.”
He added, “Beyond the numbers, this ambitious target is investing in our people. We are not only creating new opportunities for businesses on both sides, but also fostering greater regional prosperity and long-term stability.”
Muizzu said Pakistan possessed tremendous potential and that the economies of both nations had “important complementarities”.
“For the Maldives, food security is not merely a commercial consideration. As an island nation, resilient supply chains are a matter of national security, and the scale of our market should not be underestimated,” he explained.
Noting that Pakistan’s agricultural sector already serves the island nation, Muizzu emphasised the need to move beyond a typical buyer and seller relationship into partnerships in cold chain logistics, temperature-controlled storage, modern food processing and climate-adaptive agricultural technology
“But trade requires connectivity. For an island nation, maritime connectivity is an economic lifeline. We must create more efficient corridors through which that trade can move,” he highlighted. “Therefore, I encourage shipping, port and logistics companies from both countries to explore direct and commercially viable connections between Pakistan and the Maldives.”
Stressing the importance of healthcare infrastructure, the Maldivian president highlighted that the country is making significant investments to move from regional tertiary hospitals to modern island-level facilities.
“Our demand for reliable, high-quality and certified medical supplies will therefore continue to grow. We welcome Pakistani pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers,” Muizzu said.
Furthermore, he invited Pakistan’s construction companies, developers, manufacturers and engineering firms to partner with the Maldives in housing, land reclamation and connectivity projects, as part of Male’s endeavours in infrastructure and urban development.
“Renewable energy is another area of enormous potential. The Maldives spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year importing diesel. For us, therefore, the transition to clean energy is not only a climate imperative, it is an economic and fiscal necessity,” he added.
“My administration has set a target of producing 33 per cent of our national electricity requirement from renewable sources by 2028. That means more than quadrupling more than the amount generated in a five-year period.”
Additionally, the Maldivian president highlighted opportunities in both nations, unlocking the power of the global Islamic economy through Sharia-compliant finance, and halal tourism and products.
“The Maldives is strengthening its financial landscape and institutional frameworks for Islamic finance,” he said. “Together, our financial institutions, regulators, and businesses can explore Sharia-compliant investment instruments, sukuk, Islamic financial services and halal value chains. And these areas are by no means exhaustive.”
Muizzu also highlighted opportunities in tourism and hospitality, IT, education and other sectors and invited Pakistani businesses to “not look at the Maldives merely as a market to sell to, [but] look at the Maldives as a partner to build with”.