The key facts

  • Muizzu arrived in Islamabad on October 20 for a three-day visit — the first visit by a Maldives president to Pakistan in 11 years.
  • Meetings with President Zardari and Prime Minister Sharif are planned, as well as a Pakistan-Maldives business forum.
  • Agreements and memorandums on trade, defense, climate and other areas are expected.

First visit in 11 years

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday for a three-day state visit to Pakistan, state television Pakistan Television reported. This is the first visit by a Maldivian president to Pakistan in 11 years.

Program of meetings

According to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, Muizzu will meet President Asif Ali Zardari, who will host a state banquet in his honor. Talks in restricted format and at the delegation level with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif are also scheduled. Muizzu is accompanied by Foreign Minister Ihusan (Irutisham) Adam and other cabinet members.

Topics of negotiations

According to the Foreign Ministry, the leaders will 'review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations' and opportunities to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, healthcare, education, tourism, agriculture, defense, maritime security, climate change and people-to-people contacts. The sides will also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Business forum and documents

As part of the visit, a Pakistan-Maldives business forum will be held to develop contacts between the business communities of the two countries and explore opportunities in trade and investment. A number of agreements and memorandums of understanding on various areas of cooperation are expected to be signed following the visit.

Context of relations

Pakistan and the Maldives established diplomatic relations in 1966; the volume of trade between the countries exceeds $9 million.