President Dr Mohamed Muizzu is scheduled to undertake an official visit to Pakistan next Tuesday, with the two countries preparing to sign agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) across 12 areas of cooperation.
The visit, scheduled from October 20 to 23, will mark the first official visit by a Maldivian head of state to Pakistan in a decade, according to reports citing Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
President Muizzu will travel with a high-level delegation and is expected to hold bilateral discussions with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari.
The visit is expected to focus on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, education, healthcare, tourism and other sectors, as both countries seek to strengthen their longstanding diplomatic relationship.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has indicated that agreements and MoUs covering 12 areas are expected to be signed during the four-day visit.
The proposed areas of cooperation include trade and investment, health, education, climate change, tourism, civil aviation, defence and military cooperation.
Preparations for the visit are already underway in Islamabad, with Pakistani authorities reviewing arrangements and the agenda for the upcoming bilateral engagements.
According to Pakistani newspaper The News International, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar chaired a special meeting to review preparations for President Muizzu’s arrival.
The meeting examined opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in economic and development-related sectors.
Discussions also covered tourism and civil aviation, two areas of particular importance to the Maldives given the country’s reliance on international travel and connectivity.
The planned agreements are expected to provide a framework for closer engagement between government institutions and relevant sectors in both countries.
The visit comes as the Maldives continues efforts to broaden its international partnerships and attract investment into sectors supporting economic growth and infrastructure development.
Pakistan and the Maldives have maintained diplomatic relations for decades, with cooperation extending into education, professional training, defence and other areas of mutual interest.
Pakistan has also been among the countries providing educational and training opportunities to Maldivians, contributing to longstanding institutional and people-to-people ties.
Defence and military cooperation are expected to feature among the subjects addressed during the visit, reflecting an established area of engagement between the two countries.
Meanwhile, discussions on climate change could provide an opportunity for both governments to exchange perspectives on environmental vulnerability, resilience and sustainable development.
For the Maldives, climate adaptation remains a major national priority because of its low-lying geography and exposure to rising sea levels and other climate-related threats.
Tourism and civil aviation cooperation could also support efforts to strengthen travel links and expand opportunities for economic exchange between the two countries.
The planned discussions on healthcare and education are expected to explore further avenues for institutional cooperation and capacity development.
The visit will provide President Muizzu with an opportunity to engage directly with Pakistan’s senior leadership on bilateral priorities and regional issues of shared interest.
While the Pakistani Foreign Office has indicated that 12 agreements and MoUs are planned, the complete list of instruments and their specific provisions has not yet been disclosed in the information released.
Further details are expected to emerge during the visit, when the two governments formally conclude the planned agreements.
President Muizzu is scheduled to conclude his official visit on Friday, October 23.
