News Desk
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday for a three-day state visit to Pakistan from October 20 to October 22, at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to state media.
According to a press release issued from the Office of the President of the Maldives, the visit coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Maldives and Pakistan, which were formally established on 26 July 1966 and also “marks the first high-level bilateral engagement between the Maldives and Pakistan in over a decade”.
The press release further added that “upon arrival at Islamabad International Airport, the President and First Lady were accorded a 21-gun salute. The President will be accorded an official welcome tomorrow at Prime Minister House, the official residence of the Prime Minister of Pakistan”.
Meanwhile, a delegation from Maldives arrived earlier on Tuesday and was led by Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam and comprised cabinet ministers and senior officials, according to a statement from FO. “The delegation was received at the airport by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director General (South Asia & SAARC), High Commissioner of Maldives to Pakistan, and High Commissioner of Pakistan to Maldives,” the FO added.
According to an earlier statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO), Muizzu was visiting Pakistan at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and would be accompanied by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed and a high-level delegation comprising cabinet ministers and senior officials.
FO said that during the visit, President Muizzu would meet the president of Pakistan, who would also host a State Banquet in his honour, further adding that the visiting dignitary would also hold restricted and delegation-level talks with the premier.
“The two leaders will review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and explore avenues for further strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, health, education, tourism, agriculture, defence, maritime security, climate change and people-to-people exchanges,” the statement noted. The statement added that “the State Visit, the first by a President of Maldives to Pakistan in eleven years, assumes special significance as the two countries commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1966.”