Pakistan, Maldives sign 20 MoUs, target $200m trade in two years

Pakistan and the Maldives have agreed to open a new chapter in their longstanding relationship, signing 20 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and setting an ambitious target to increase bilateral trade to $200 million within two years.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the trade target on Wednesday during talks with Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu in Islamabad, describing the agreements as an opportunity to transform decades of friendship into stronger economic, diplomatic and strategic cooperation.

Muizzu’s three-day visit, which began on Tuesday, marks the first visit by a Maldivian president to Pakistan in 11 years. It also coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, established in 1966.

Addressing a joint press stakeout after the signing ceremony, Shehbaz expressed confidence that bilateral ties would continue to grow, declaring that both countries would strengthen their relationship “for all time to come”.

The prime minister welcomed Muizzu and his delegation, saying discussions had covered economic and trade relations, defence cooperation, education, healthcare, police training and other areas of mutual interest.

He described the talks as productive and said the two countries had agreed that their existing economic relationship did not reflect the full potential of their friendship.

Trade target rises from $13.9 million to $200 million

One of the most significant outcomes of the visit is the commitment to substantially expand trade between Pakistan and the Maldives.

According to Shehbaz, bilateral trade currently stands at approximately $13.9 million, a figure he described as only a fraction of what the two countries could achieve together.

The new target of $200 million within two years represents a major expansion of their economic ambitions and places trade and investment at the centre of the renewed partnership.

Muizzu endorsed the target, saying the two countries offered considerable untapped opportunities for each other. He stressed that the agreements signed during the visit would have real value only if they produced tangible benefits for businesses and ordinary citizens.

A Pakistan-Maldives Business Forum scheduled for Thursday is expected to bring together business leaders, investors, innovators and other stakeholders to explore commercial opportunities.

The forum is intended to strengthen business-to-business connections and identify practical avenues for investment, trade and commercial collaboration.

An MoU between the Maldives State Trading Organisation and the Trading Corporation of Pakistan will support cooperation in the trade of agricultural commodities, food and other products.

Both countries will need sustained business engagement, improved connectivity and effective implementation of their agreements to turn the ambitious trade target into reality.

20 agreements cover defence, AI and healthcare

The 20 MoUs signed during the visit span a broad range of sectors, reflecting the two governments’ intention to build a partnership extending beyond traditional diplomatic relations.

Information technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital skills and technological innovation feature prominently in the agreements.

The countries also agreed to strengthen cooperation in defence, maritime security, health, education, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, environmental protection and social welfare.

Other agreements cover technical and vocational education, youth development, sports, arts, culture and heritage, as well as air connectivity.

The two sides also signed arrangements involving their respective police and civil service institutions, including cooperation between Pakistan’s National Police Academy and the National College of Policy and Law Enforcement of the Maldives Police Service.

Agreements involving the Maldives Civil Service Commission and Pakistan’s Federal Public Service Commission and Civil Service Academy are intended to encourage institutional collaboration and professional capacity-building.

Cooperation in combating illicit drug trafficking and narcotics abuse is another component of the package.

The breadth of the agreements highlights a shared effort to establish practical links between government institutions while creating opportunities for professionals, students and businesses in both countries.

However, the success of the initiative will ultimately depend on how quickly the signed documents translate into functioning programmes and measurable outcomes.

Pakistan offers expertise in technology and education

Shehbaz said Pakistan was ready to share its technical expertise with the Maldives, particularly in information technology and the development of data centres.

He welcomed the Maldives’ plans to establish data centres and said Pakistan had developed professional capabilities in the sector that could support its partner’s ambitions.

The offer creates an opportunity for cooperation in digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and emerging technologies at a time when both countries are seeking to expand their technological capacity.

Education and healthcare are also expected to remain important pillars of the relationship.

Shehbaz noted that a considerable number of Maldivian students were studying at Pakistani universities and colleges, particularly in healthcare-related fields. He also said approximately 250 Pakistani doctors and other paramedical professionals were serving in the Maldives.

Pakistan assured the visiting president that it was willing to expand educational opportunities, professional training and healthcare cooperation in response to Maldivian requirements.

Muizzu welcomed the prospect of broader scholarships and placements, particularly in artificial intelligence, digitisation, future technologies and health.

He said preparing younger generations for emerging opportunities was essential, adding that the countries wanted their youth not only to adapt to the future but also to help shape it.

The agreements on technical education and professional development could help establish longer-term institutional links and expand access to specialised training.

Direct flights could unlock tourism opportunities

Improving air connectivity emerged as another priority during the talks, with Muizzu expressing encouragement over discussions about establishing direct flights between Pakistan and the Maldives.

The proposed connection could make travel easier for tourists, businesspeople, students and professionals while strengthening links between the two countries.

Muizzu also highlighted the potential of halal and Muslim-friendly tourism, an area in which the two countries could develop complementary opportunities.

The Maldives is internationally recognised for its island destinations and marine tourism, while Pakistan offers mountains, historical sites, cultural attractions and religious tourism destinations.

Better connectivity, coordinated tourism promotion and business investment could help both countries attract more visitors and develop travel packages catering to Muslim travellers.

The air connectivity MoU provides a framework for cooperation, although the announcement did not establish a confirmed launch date or operational schedule for direct flights.

Five million trees planned for Maldives

Climate change featured prominently in the discussions, particularly given the Maldives’ vulnerability to rising sea levels and environmental pressures.

Shehbaz announced that Pakistan would support the Maldives’ plan to plant five million trees by providing 100,000 olive cuttings and 100,000 seeds of various plant species within a mutually agreed timeframe.

The announcement offered a concrete environmental initiative alongside the broader diplomatic agreements.

Muizzu welcomed the commitment, describing climate change as a direct challenge to the Maldives’ security, development and future rather than simply an environmental concern.

He called for cooperation in climate resilience, conservation, sustainable waste management and renewable energy.

For the Maldives, an island nation particularly exposed to the effects of rising sea levels, environmental protection is closely linked to long-term economic stability and national security. Pakistan, meanwhile, faces its own environmental challenges, including floods, water stress and the need for sustainable land management.

Cooperation could create opportunities to exchange expertise, although the practical impact will depend on the selection of suitable plant species, implementation arrangements and the long-term survival of the trees.

Palestine, Kashmir and regional cooperation

Beyond economic and environmental matters, the two leaders reaffirmed their positions on major international and regional issues.

Shehbaz praised the Maldives for its consistent support for the Palestinian cause and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state.

Muizzu likewise expressed solidarity with Palestinians and commended Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to promote dialogue, de-escalation, humanitarian assistance and a lasting peace in the Middle East.

The Pakistani prime minister also briefed his counterpart on Islamabad’s position regarding occupied Jammu and Kashmir, reiterating support for a peaceful settlement in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Water security was another major issue raised by Shehbaz. He expressed serious concern over India’s decision in April 2025 to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, arguing that legally binding international agreements must be respected.

He warned against using shared water resources as instruments of political pressure and described water as a fundamental lifeline for humanity.

Shehbaz said Pakistan had repeatedly made clear that water security was a red line for the country, including at the United Nations General Assembly.

His remarks underscored the importance Islamabad attaches to the treaty and its wider concerns about regional stability and the management of shared resources.

Muizzu, meanwhile, reiterated the Maldives’ commitment to revitalising the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc). He said rebuilding trust, encouraging dialogue and strengthening mutual understanding were essential to unlocking the potential of regional cooperation.

High-level welcome marks renewed partnership

The visit began with a formal welcome at the Prime Minister’s House, where Muizzu received a guard of honour from contingents representing Pakistan’s three armed forces.

He also planted a sapling at the premises, symbolising the environmental cooperation announced during the visit. Prayers were offered for the progress and prosperity of both countries.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also met the Maldivian president, emphasising opportunities to expand cooperation in trade, investment, education, climate change and tourism.

Dar welcomed the Maldivian business delegation and expressed hope that business-to-business engagement would produce concrete investment and trade opportunities.

The visit also included recognition of Muizzu’s public service. The International Islamic University Islamabad conferred an honorary doctorate in politics on the Maldivian president, with Shehbaz describing the degree as recognition of his leadership and service to the Maldivian people.

The visit follows other recent high-level contacts between the two countries. In September, Maldivian parliamentary speaker Abdul Raheem Abdullah met Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir in Rawalpindi. The previous Maldivian presidential state visit to Pakistan took place in May 2015, when then-president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom visited at the invitation of then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

From diplomatic promises to practical results

For both governments, the central challenge now is to convert the agreements into measurable progress.

The $200 million trade target is ambitious compared with the current level of commerce, while the commitments on technology, healthcare, education, tourism and environmental protection will require coordination between ministries, institutions and private-sector partners.

Direct air links, expanded student exchanges, professional training and stronger commercial ties could provide visible benefits. Cooperation in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure could also open new avenues for longer-term collaboration.

Speaking at the joint press stakeout, Muizzu said the visit was an opportunity not merely to celebrate the friendship of the past but to define the partnership of the future.

Shehbaz echoed that sentiment, describing the visit as giving bilateral relations new purpose and momentum.

He pointed to the Indian Ocean as a historic link between the two nations, recalling how its waters had carried traders, scholars and travellers between their shores for centuries.

The signing of 20 MoUs marks a significant diplomatic milestone, but the coming months will determine whether the renewed commitments lead to stronger trade, deeper institutional cooperation and lasting benefits for people in Pakistan and the Maldives.

As the two countries mark six decades of diplomatic relations, their next chapter will be measured not simply by the number of agreements signed, but by the opportunities those agreements deliver.