Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday vowed to strengthen Pakistan’s relations with the Maldives, as the two countries signed 20 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) during the visit of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.
Muizzu arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday on a three-day visit at the invitation of PM Shehbaz Sharif. 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 in 1966.
Addressing a joint press stakeout following the signing of 20 wide-ranging MoUs, PM Shehbaz said, “There is no doubt that the two countries [will] keep on strengthening these relations for all time to come.”
The premier extended a “very warm welcome” to the visiting dignitary and his delegation.
“With our warmest greetings and heartfelt affection to the people of Dhivehi Raajje, the land of islands, a nation whose spirit is as vast as the ocean that surrounds it,” he said, hailing 60 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The prime minister noted that he and Muizzu, in their bilateral and delegation-level talks, discussed “all important issues which have direct bearing between our two brotherly countries and of course, regional and international issues”.
“I am very happy to announce that we had a wonderful session, very productive and very fruitful discussions,” he remarked.
PM Shehbaz noted that the conversations encompassed “economic and trade relations, our strategic defence cooperation, our support for training of our brothers and sisters from Maldives in Pakistan in various walks of life; police, defence, education, health and many other” fields.
The prime minister went on to announce that both sides had agreed to raise their bilateral trade from $13.9 million — “just a fraction of our potential” — to $200m in the next two years.
While highlighting that the two South Asian countries had “very strong” relations, coupled with a “long list of mutual achievements”, PM Shehbaz said both sides noted that their ties “do not reflect the true strength of our economic cooperation”.
Thanking Muizzu for his “personal support in this behalf”, the premier went on to announce that Islamabad would support Malé in promoting the plantation of 5m trees in the Maldives by providing 100,000 olive cuttings and 100,000 seeds of various plant species within a mutually decided timeframe.
Referring to the MoUs signed, he affirmed that he “will be very happy to personally work with you to translate these written MoUs into action with prompt decision-making and speedy implementation”.
The prime minister declared that Pakistan was “absolutely ready to provide technical expertise to various segments of our mutual cooperation and, above all, Pakistan is very happy to learn that Maldives is moving forward speedily to establish data centres in other places”.
“This is great news, and as a matter of good luck, Pakistan has also attained a reasonable level of expertise and professional capability in this field,” he added, noting that the country had set up data centres in various locations. He offered Pakistan’s “experience and our professional capabilities in this behalf” to the Maldives.
PM Shehbaz noted that a large number of Maldivian students were receiving education in Pakistani universities and colleges, particularly in the field of healthcare, and that 250 Pakistani doctors and other paramedics were serving in the Maldives.
“This shall continue in future with bigger numbers so that whatever requirements you have, we as a brotherly country would be more than happy to fulfil those requirements willingly and with utmost sincerity of purpose,” the prime minister assured Muizzu.
The Maldivian president was later conferred with an honorary doctorate in politics by the International Islamic University Islamabad.
PM Shehbaz had noted that the degree recognised Muizzu’s “sagacious and wise leadership and your great public service to your people in the Maldives”.
20 MoUs signed
The MoUs, signed in the presence of both countries’ leaders, pertained to:
- Defence cooperation
- Maritime security
- Cooperation in the fields of information technology, cybersecurity and AI
- Combatting illicit trafficking and narcotics
- Social protection
- Health and cooperation between the food regulatory authorities
- Recruitment of health professionals
- Promotion of vocational training
- Youth and sports development
- Enhancing air connectivity
- Cooperation between police academies
- Pacts of Civil Services Commission of Maldives with Federal Public Service Commission and Civil Service Academy
- Separate pacts on cooperation in agriculture, trade, fisheries, environment, education, tourism, and arts and culture
Prior to the MoU signing ceremony, Muizzi was welcomed at Prime Minister House with a guard of honour. He held introductions with federal ministers, while PM Shehbaz also greeted the Maldivian delegation.
According to a statement by PM Office (PMO), the prime minister extended a “warm welcome to the esteemed guest”, followed by a guard of honour by smartly turned-out contingents of all three armed forces.
The visiting dignitary also planted a sapling at PM House, and prayers were offered for the progress and prosperity of both countries.
An earlier statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) said Muizzu will meet President Asif Ali Zardari and will also hold “restricted and delegation-level” talks with PM Shehbaz.
A Pakistan-Maldives Business Forum will also be held during the visit to promote interaction between the two countries’ business communities and explore opportunities for trade and investment.
Meeting with Dar
Earlier in the day, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called on Muizzu, welcoming him and his delegation to Pakistan, FO said on X.
Dar “underscored the importance of expanding bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, education, climate change and tourism”, FO said.
DPM Dar also welcomed the Maldivian business delegation in the Maldives-Pakistan Business Forum and “expressed hope that B2B engagements would yield concrete trade and investment opportunities”.
Muizzu, speaking to Dar, “expressed Maldives’ desire to deepen its close relations with Pakistan and explore new avenues of mutually beneficial cooperation”, FO said.
Last month, the Maldives’ parliamentary speaker Abdul Raheem Abdullah met with Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir in Rawalpindi.
In 2015, former Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom undertook a two-day state visit to Pakistan on May 6-7 at the invitation of then-PM Nawaz Sharif.