Islamabad, October 20,2026: Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday for a three-day state visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic, economic and bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
The visiting presidential couple received a ceremonial welcome at Islamabad International Airport, where a 21-gun salute was accorded to President Muizzu. The visit, continuing until October 22, comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as Pakistan and the Maldives mark 60 years of diplomatic relations.
The visit is expected to feature high-level meetings with Pakistan’s leadership, discussions on bilateral cooperation and the exchange of several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in areas of mutual interest.
It is the first visit by a Maldivian president to Pakistan in 11 years, following the visit of former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom in May 2015.
President Muizzu is scheduled to receive an official welcome at the Prime Minister’s House on Wednesday, followed by talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The two leaders are expected to review existing bilateral relations and explore opportunities to expand cooperation across various sectors.
The Maldivian president is also scheduled to meet President Asif Ali Zardari, who will host a state banquet in his honour. The programme includes restricted and delegation-level meetings to discuss avenues for strengthening cooperation.
According to the Foreign Office, the discussions are expected to cover trade, investment, health, education, tourism, agriculture, defence, maritime security, climate change and people-to-people exchanges. The two sides will also exchange views on regional and international developments of mutual interest.
A Pakistan-Maldives Business Forum is planned during the visit to promote engagement between the two countries’ business communities, identify trade and investment opportunities and strengthen commercial ties.
Several agreements and MoUs are expected to be exchanged during the visit, with the proposed arrangements covering multiple sectors of bilateral cooperation. Further details are expected to emerge through official announcements.
Pakistan and the Maldives established diplomatic relations on July 26, 1966. The presidential visit coincides with the 60th anniversary of these ties, providing an opportunity for both countries to review their longstanding partnership and explore new avenues of cooperation.
Ahead of President Muizzu’s arrival, Maldivian Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam landed in Islamabad on Tuesday morning, accompanied by cabinet ministers and senior government officials.
The delegation was received at the airport by officials from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the spokesperson and the director general for South Asia and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), along with the Maldives’ high commissioner to Pakistan and Pakistan’s high commissioner to the Maldives.
