Pakistan and the Maldives on Wednesday agreed to raise bilateral trade from around USD 13 million to USD 200 million within two years, as the two countries signed 20 memoranda of understanding and agreements spanning trade, health, education, defence, policing, tourism, agriculture and technology during President Mohamed Muizzu’s first visit to Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Muizzu announced the trade target after holding delegation-level and restricted talks in Islamabad, with both leaders acknowledging that current economic exchanges remained far below the potential of a relationship that has now completed 60 years.
“This is only at this point in time USD 13.9 million, which is just a fraction of our potential,” PM Shehbaz said, adding that both sides had agreed to “strive our best” to take bilateral trade to USD 200 million over the next two years.
Muizzu endorsed the target, saying the two countries represented “worlds of untapped potential for each other”.
“We agreed to work together to expand bilateral trade and promote greater investment, deepen tourism cooperation, and strengthen connectivity between our two countries,” he said.
The Maldivian president’s visit is the first by a head of state from the island nation to Pakistan in 11 years and coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
PM Shehbaz and Rector of the International Islamic University, Prof. Dr. Ahmed Saad Al Ahmed, also presented an honorary PhD degree to Dr Muizzu at a special convocation.
Twenty agreements to broaden cooperation
The two sides exchanged 20 MoUs and agreements covering health, education, fisheries and agriculture, youth, arts, Islamic affairs, tourism, information technology, police and defence cooperation.
PM Shehbaz said the priority now was to ensure the agreements were implemented rather than allowed to remain on paper.
“I will be very happy to personally work with you to translate these written MoUs into action with prompt decision-making and speedy implementation,” he told Muizzu.
The Maldivian president echoed that position, saying agreements would only matter if they delivered practical outcomes.
“Agreements are meaningful only when they produce results,” Muizzu said. “Our next step, of course, is to translate these understandings into tangible opportunities and meaningful benefits for the people of both nations.”
The two leaders said a Maldives-Pakistan Business Forum scheduled for Thursday would seek to connect investors, business leaders and innovators from the two countries and translate political ties into commercial partnerships.
Muizzu also said discussions were under way on establishing direct flights between Pakistan and the Maldives, which he said could support tourism and wider economic engagement.
He identified halal and Muslim-friendly tourism as another area with considerable potential, given the two countries’ shared cultural and religious links.
Health, education and technology cooperation
PM Shehbaz highlighted Pakistan’s longstanding role in training Maldivian students and professionals, particularly in health, education, policing and defence.
He said a large number of Maldivian students had studied at Pakistani universities and colleges, especially in medical fields, while around 250 Pakistani doctors, along with paramedics, were currently serving in the Maldives.
The prime minister said Pakistan was prepared to increase that support depending on Maldivian requirements.
Muizzu said the two sides had agreed to broaden opportunities for Maldivian students, athletes, coaches and young professionals.
In the health sector, he said discussions included increasing MBBS placements under the Pakistan Technical Assistance Programme and exploring internship opportunities in Pakistan for Maldivian medical graduates.
The leaders also discussed skills development, entrepreneurship, leadership and cooperation in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and digitalisation.
PM Shehbaz said Pakistan was ready to support the Maldives as it moved to establish data centres in Malé and elsewhere, noting that Pakistan had developed domestic expertise in the sector.
He said Pakistan had established data centres ranging in capacity from half a megawatt to 8.5 megawatts and was willing to share technical expertise and experience with the Maldives.
Climate cooperation, five million tree target
Climate change also featured prominently in the talks, with Muizzu describing it as an existential concern for the Maldives rather than simply an environmental issue.
“For the Maldives, climate change is not an abstract environmental concern. It is a direct challenge to our security, our development, and our future,” he said.
The Maldivian president said his country wanted deeper cooperation with Pakistan in conservation, sustainable waste management, renewable energy and climate resilience.
PM Shehbaz announced Pakistan’s support for the Maldives’ plan to plant five million trees, saying Islamabad would initially contribute 100,000 olive cuttings and 100,000 seeds of different plant species.
Muizzu thanked Pakistan for the contribution, saying it would support the government’s plantation target during its current term.
Muizzu calls for revival of SAARC
Beyond bilateral cooperation, Muizzu used the visit to call for renewed regional engagement through the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
He said the Maldives remained committed to SAARC and believed the grouping retained significant potential to address shared regional challenges.
“The Maldives remains firmly committed to playing a constructive and proactive role in revitalising SAARC,” he said.
Muizzu called for rebuilding trust, encouraging meaningful dialogue and strengthening mutual understanding among member states.
He said the Maldives was ready to work with all SAARC countries to create conditions for holding the organisation’s next summit “at the earliest possible opportunity”.
SAARC has remained largely inactive at the summit level for years amid political tensions among member states.
Palestine, Occupied Kashmir and Indus Waters Treaty
The two leaders also discussed Palestine and broader regional developments.
Muizzu reaffirmed what he called the Maldives’ “unequivocal and steadfast solidarity” with the Palestinian people and their right to an independent and sovereign state based on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He also praised Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts aimed at encouraging dialogue, de-escalation, humanitarian assistance and a lasting settlement in the Middle East.
PM Shehbaz said Pakistan remained fully committed to the Palestinian right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and contiguous Palestinian state in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions.
The prime minister also briefed Muizzu on Pakistan’s position on Jammu and Kashmir, reiterating Islamabad’s call for a peaceful resolution in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
PM Shehbaz further raised Pakistan’s objections to India’s decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, saying legally binding treaties must be respected.
“Shared water resources must never be weaponised or used as an instrument of political pressure or blackmailing,” he said.
He reiterated his earlier description of water as a “red line” for Pakistan and said water resources should serve trade, prosperity and development rather than become a source of confrontation.
‘New era’ in bilateral relations
Both leaders described the visit as an opportunity to move beyond the traditionally warm political relationship and build stronger economic and institutional ties.
PM Shehbaz said Pakistan-Maldives relations were rooted in historical bonds but acknowledged that economic cooperation had not reflected the strength of those ties.
Muizzu similarly said his discussions with PM Shehbaz had produced a “clear shared ambition” to take the relationship into a broader and more dynamic phase.
“For 60 years, Pakistan has stood as a trusted friend of the Maldives,” Muizzu said. “Today, Prime Minister and I have agreed to turn a new leaf, to build a new era of partnership on the foundations of our six decades of friendship.”
The Maldivian president also invited PM Shehbaz to visit the Maldives, saying he hoped to reciprocate the hospitality extended to him in Pakistan.
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