Maldives President Muizzu to Visit Pakistan on October 20-22
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu will make a state visit to Pakistan from October 20 to 22, the first by a Maldivian president in 11 years. The Maldives presidential visit to Pakistan comes as the two countries mark 60 years of diplomatic relations.
The Foreign Office (FO) announced the visit on Sunday, saying the two sides would explore wider cooperation in trade, investment, defence and maritime security during the three-day trip.
“The State Visit, the first by a President of Maldives to Pakistan in eleven years, assumes special significance as the two countries commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1966,” the FO said in a statement shared on its X account.
Itinerary and meetings
Muizzu will visit Pakistan at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He will be accompanied by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed and a high-level delegation of cabinet ministers and senior officials.
During the visit, Muizzu will meet President Asif Ali Zardari, who will host a state banquet in his honour, and hold restricted and delegation-level talks with PM Shehbaz.
“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 statement said.
“They will also exchange views on regional and international developments of mutual interest,” it added.
Why the Maldives presidential visit to Pakistan matters
The visit lands at a moment when Indian Ocean diplomacy is in motion and Pakistan is widening its circle of regional partners. For Islamabad, the Maldives is a Muslim-majority neighbour whose support matters in multilateral forums, while Male values Pakistan as a large South Asian partner beyond its immediate neighbourhood.
The timing also matters domestically. Parliamentary ties between the two countries were refreshed only last month, when the Speaker of the Maldives’ People’s Majlis, Abdul Raheem Abdullah, visited Pakistan for five days at the invitation of National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. The two sides agreed to strengthen parliamentary cooperation and people-to-people contacts, and Abdullah praised Pakistan’s “clear and consistent” stance on Palestine and Kashmir.
The agenda’s inclusion of maritime security and climate change is telling. Both are existential concerns for a low-lying island nation, and Pakistan has positioned itself as a partner on both fronts.
Business forum and agreements
The visit will also feature a 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,” the FO statement said.
A number of agreements and memorandums of understanding covering different areas of bilateral cooperation are also expected to be signed during the visit.
Highlighting the longstanding ties between the two countries, the statement said, “Pakistan and Maldives enjoy warm and fraternal relations rooted in shared faith, mutual respect, longstanding goodwill and close cooperation at regional and international forums.”
“The forthcoming visit reflects the shared commitment of both countries to further strengthening their bilateral partnership and opening new avenues of mutually beneficial cooperation,” it concluded.
FAQ
When will the Maldives president visit Pakistan?
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu will visit Pakistan from October 20 to 22, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Why is the visit significant?
It is the first state visit by a Maldivian president to Pakistan in 11 years and coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, established in 1966.
What will be discussed?
Trade, investment, health, education, tourism, agriculture, defence, maritime security, climate change and people-to-people exchanges, along with regional and international developments.
Will any agreements be signed?
Yes. Several agreements and memorandums of understanding covering different areas of bilateral cooperation are expected to be signed, and a Pakistan-Maldives Business Forum will be held.
