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\u2019s first visit to Pakistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is only at this point in time USD 13.9 million, which is just a fraction of our potential,\u201d PM Shehbaz said, adding that both sides had agreed to \u201cstrive our best\u201d to take bilateral trade to USD 200 million over the next two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Muizzu endorsed the target, saying the two countries represented \u201cworlds of untapped potential for each other\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe agreed to work together to expand bilateral trade and promote greater investment, deepen tourism cooperation, and strengthen connectivity between our two countries,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Maldivian president\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PM Shehbaz said the priority now was to ensure the agreements were implemented rather than allowed to remain on paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI will be very happy to personally work with you to translate these written MoUs into action with prompt decision-making and speedy implementation,\u201d he told Muizzu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Maldivian president echoed that position, saying agreements would only matter if they delivered practical outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAgreements are meaningful only when they produce results,\u201d Muizzu said. \u201cOur next step, of course, is to translate these understandings into tangible opportunities and meaningful benefits for the people of both nations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He identified halal and Muslim-friendly tourism as another area with considerable potential, given the two countries\u2019 shared cultural and religious links.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PM Shehbaz highlighted Pakistan\u2019s longstanding role in training Maldivian students and professionals, particularly in health, education, policing and defence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prime minister said Pakistan was prepared to increase that support depending on Maldivian requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Muizzu said the two sides had agreed to broaden opportunities for Maldivian students, athletes, coaches and young professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The leaders also discussed skills development, entrepreneurship, leadership and cooperation in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and digitalisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PM Shehbaz said Pakistan was ready to support the Maldives as it moved to establish data centres in Mal\u00e9 and elsewhere, noting that Pakistan had developed domestic expertise in the sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor the Maldives, climate change is not an abstract environmental concern. It is a direct challenge to our security, our development, and our future,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Maldivian president said his country wanted deeper cooperation with Pakistan in conservation, sustainable waste management, renewable energy and climate resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PM Shehbaz announced Pakistan\u2019s support for the Maldives\u2019 plan to plant five million trees, saying Islamabad would initially contribute 100,000 olive cuttings and 100,000 seeds of different plant species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Muizzu thanked Pakistan for the contribution, saying it would support the government\u2019s plantation target during its current term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond bilateral cooperation, Muizzu used the visit to call for renewed regional engagement through the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the Maldives remained committed to SAARC and believed the grouping retained significant potential to address shared regional challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Maldives remains firmly committed to playing a constructive and proactive role in revitalising SAARC,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Muizzu called for rebuilding trust, encouraging meaningful dialogue and strengthening mutual understanding among member states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the Maldives was ready to work with all SAARC countries to create conditions for holding the organisation\u2019s next summit \u201cat the earliest possible opportunity\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SAARC has remained largely inactive at the summit level for years amid political tensions among member states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two leaders also discussed Palestine and broader regional developments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Muizzu reaffirmed what he called the Maldives\u2019 \u201cunequivocal and steadfast solidarity\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also praised Pakistan\u2019s diplomatic efforts aimed at encouraging dialogue, de-escalation, humanitarian assistance and a lasting settlement in the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prime minister also briefed Muizzu on Pakistan\u2019s position on Jammu and Kashmir, reiterating Islamabad\u2019s call for a peaceful resolution in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PM Shehbaz further raised Pakistan\u2019s objections to India\u2019s decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, saying legally binding treaties must be respected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShared water resources must never be weaponised or used as an instrument of political pressure or blackmailing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He reiterated his earlier description of water as a \u201cred line\u201d for Pakistan and said water resources should serve trade, prosperity and development rather than become a source of confrontation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both leaders described the visit as an opportunity to move beyond the traditionally warm political relationship and build stronger economic and institutional ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PM Shehbaz said Pakistan-Maldives relations were rooted in historical bonds but acknowledged that economic cooperation had not reflected the strength of those ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Muizzu similarly said his discussions with PM Shehbaz had produced a \u201cclear shared ambition\u201d to take the relationship into a broader and more dynamic phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor 60 years, Pakistan has stood as a trusted friend of the Maldives,\u201d Muizzu said. \u201cToday, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Maldivian president also invited PM Shehbaz to visit the Maldives, saying he hoped to reciprocate the hospitality extended to him in Pakistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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