President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has expressed confidence that the benefits of his recent state visit to Pakistan will begin to materialise in the near future, highlighting agreements aimed at expanding trade, improving transport connectivity and strengthening cooperation in education and other key sectors.
Speaking on PSM News’ NationChat programme, the President described the three-day visit as highly successful and said his administration would work to ensure that the agreements reached during the trip produce tangible results as quickly as possible.
The visit, undertaken at the invitation of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, marked the first official visit by a Maldivian head of state to Pakistan in 11 years.
President Muizzu said the visit had been warmly received by Pakistan, reflecting the importance both countries place on their longstanding bilateral relationship.
He noted that the shared Islamic identity of the Maldives and Pakistan provides a particularly strong foundation for cooperation, describing it as a distinctive bond between the two nations.
The President identified economic cooperation as one of the most significant outcomes of the visit, revealing that both governments had agreed to work towards increasing bilateral trade to USD 200 million within the next two years.
The target forms part of broader efforts to strengthen commercial exchanges and create new opportunities for businesses in both countries.
Improving transport connectivity was another major focus of the discussions, with the two sides agreeing to pursue maritime links and direct air services between the Maldives and Pakistan.
President Muizzu said efforts would be made to advance these initiatives without delay, recognising the importance of better connectivity in facilitating trade and strengthening relations between the two countries.
Direct air connections could also support tourism and make travel more convenient for businesspeople, students and other passengers travelling between the Maldives and Pakistan.
Similarly, improved maritime transport links could provide additional opportunities for the movement of goods and contribute to the expansion of bilateral trade.
The President highlighted the signing of 20 agreements during the visit, describing them as an important step towards accelerating cooperation across several sectors.
He said the agreements would provide a foundation for further collaboration and help translate the commitments made during the visit into practical benefits for both countries.
Education was among the areas where new opportunities were secured for Maldivians, with Pakistan agreeing to provide an additional 20 undergraduate scholarships annually.
The scholarship commitment is expected to expand higher education opportunities for Maldivian students seeking to pursue university studies in Pakistan.
Pakistan has long been an educational destination for Maldivian students, particularly in fields such as medicine and other professional disciplines.
The two governments also agreed to strengthen cooperation in healthcare, technical training and human resource development.
These initiatives are intended to support the exchange of expertise, improve professional skills and create additional opportunities for capacity building.
Youth development featured prominently in the discussions, with both countries agreeing to expand youth exchange programmes and strengthen cooperation in skills development.
The agreements also cover emerging areas of cooperation, including artificial intelligence and digitalisation, reflecting efforts to develop partnerships in technology and innovation.
President Muizzu said the decisions reached during the visit would help strengthen relations across multiple sectors while creating opportunities for future economic and social development.
The Maldives and Pakistan maintain longstanding diplomatic relations, supported by cooperation in education, defence, healthcare and other areas of mutual interest.
Pakistan has also provided training and educational opportunities for Maldivians over the years, contributing to the development of professional and technical expertise in the country.
The latest agreements seek to build on these existing ties while placing greater emphasis on trade, connectivity and emerging economic opportunities.
President Muizzu reiterated that his administration’s immediate priority is to follow through on the commitments made during the visit, expressing confidence that Maldivians will begin to see the positive outcomes of the strengthened partnership in the near future.
