Muizzu Departs Malé as Historic State Visit to Pakistan Begins
Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu departed Malé on Tuesday morning, formally setting in motion a three-day state visit to Pakistan that is the first by a Maldivian head of state in 11 years. Accompanied by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed and a high-level delegation of cabinet ministers and senior officials, the president is undertaking the Muizzu state visit Pakistan from October 20 to 22 at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as the two countries commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations.
The departure turns the page from announcement to action: the Muizzu state visit Pakistan is now officially under way, with the Maldivian leader expected in Islamabad for ceremonial honours, leadership-level talks and business engagement.
Departure from Malé: The Visit Is Officially Under Way
President Muizzu and the First Lady left the Maldives on Tuesday morning for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, marking what Maldivian officials described as an important new chapter in the longstanding relationship between the two countries. The three-day visit is being undertaken at the invitation of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and comes as the Maldives and Pakistan mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, which began on 26 July 1966.
According to Maldivian reports, preparations for the Muizzu state visit Pakistan included diplomatic consultations between officials of both countries, with both sides committing to productive discussions and expanded bilateral ties.
Several memoranda of understanding covering areas of mutual interest are expected to be exchanged as part of the official programme — a signal that the visit is designed to produce concrete outcomes, not merely ceremonial optics.
First Maldivian Presidential Visit in 11 Years
The Muizzu state visit Pakistan assumes special significance as the first state visit by a president of the Maldives to Pakistan in eleven years — and the first high-level engagement between the two countries in a decade, according to both Pakistani and Maldivian official statements. The Foreign Office of Pakistan has described the timing, coinciding with the diamond jubilee of diplomatic ties, as giving the visit added weight.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar chaired a preparatory meeting at the Foreign Office, reviewing the bilateral agenda — trade, investment, health, education, climate change, tourism and civil aviation — and directed all authorities to coordinate closely for a successful visit.
Meetings with President Zardari and PM Shehbaz Sharif
During the Muizzu state visit Pakistan, President Muizzu will meet President Asif Ali Zardari, who will host a state banquet in his honour. He will also hold restricted and delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The two leaders will review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and explore avenues for further strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, health, education, tourism, agriculture, defence, maritime security, climate change and people-to-people exchanges.
The leaders are also expected to exchange views on regional and international developments of mutual interest — a significant line on the agenda given the fast-moving security environment in the wider region.
Around 12 Agreements and a Pakistan–Maldives Business Forum
Around 12 agreements and memorandums of understanding are expected to be signed during the Muizzu state visit Pakistan, covering trade, investment, health, education, climate change, tourism, civil aviation and defence and military cooperation. Discussions will also cover establishing direct air links between the Maldives and Pakistan — a long-discussed step that would boost tourism and people-to-people contact.
A key feature of the visit will be the Pakistan–Maldives Business Forum, aimed at promoting greater interaction between the business communities of the two countries and exploring new opportunities for trade and investment.
Talks are also expected to address the revitalisation of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), alongside cooperation at the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation — forums where both countries have traditionally worked closely.
60 Years of Pakistan–Maldives Relations
Pakistan and the Maldives established diplomatic relations in 1966, and the relationship has remained consistently cordial over six decades of diplomatic engagement, cooperation and shared interests. The Foreign Office noted: “Pakistan and Maldives enjoy warm and fraternal relations rooted in shared faith, mutual respect, longstanding goodwill and close cooperation at regional and international forums.”
President Muizzu took office as the eighth president of the Maldives in November 2023, and his government’s foreign policy has emphasised diversified partnerships across South Asia — a pattern the Muizzu state visit Pakistan fits.
With delegation-level talks, a business forum and multiple agreements on the table, the three-day state visit is shaping up to be one of the most substantive bilateral engagements between the two countries in years. UrduPro will continue to follow the visit as it unfolds over the coming days.
Sources: The News | Maldives Ledger
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