President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed visited the High Commission of the Republic of Maldives in Islamabad on Wednesday afternoon as part of the President’s ongoing State Visit to Pakistan.
Upon their arrival at the diplomatic mission, President Dr Muizzu and the First Lady were received by the High Commissioner of the Maldives to Pakistan, Uz Mohamed Thoha. During the visit, the President and First Lady toured the High Commission premises, gaining an overview of the mission’s facilities and its work in representing the Maldives and supporting Maldivian interests in Pakistan.
President Dr Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed also signed the High Commission’s guestbook and spent time interacting with members of the mission’s staff. The engagement provided an opportunity for the President to meet officials serving at the diplomatic mission during a significant period in Maldives–Pakistan relations.
The visit to the High Commission formed part of President Dr Muizzu’s State Visit to Pakistan from October 20 to 22, undertaken at the invitation of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. The visit marks the first high-level bilateral engagement between the Maldives and Pakistan in more than a decade and coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which were formally established on July 26, 1966.
President Dr Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed arrived in Islamabad on October 20, where they were accorded a 21-gun salute upon arrival. The President was subsequently given a ceremonial welcome at the Prime Minister House, where he was received by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The official ceremony included the playing of the national anthems of the Maldives and Pakistan, a presentation of arms and the President’s inspection of the Guard of Honour.
The State Visit has placed renewed emphasis on strengthening the longstanding friendship between the Maldives and Pakistan and expanding cooperation into areas that directly contribute to national development and opportunities for the people of both countries. President Dr Muizzu and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held extensive bilateral discussions covering trade and investment, healthcare, education, environment, fisheries and agriculture, youth and sports, policing and defence, training and capacity-building, and tourism.
The two governments have also focused on expanding institutional cooperation and identifying practical opportunities for deeper engagement. President Dr Muizzu has described the visit as an opportunity to build a broader and more dynamic phase of Maldives–Pakistan relations while strengthening cooperation in sectors of mutual interest.
The President’s visit to the Maldives High Commission in Islamabad also underscored the importance placed by the Administration on the role of Maldivian diplomatic missions in advancing the country’s international relations, strengthening government-to-government engagement and providing support to Maldivians overseas.
Members of the high-level Maldivian delegation accompanying President Dr Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed on the State Visit were also present during the visit to the High Commission.
The State Visit continues a busy programme of high-level engagements in Islamabad as the Maldives and Pakistan commemorate six decades of diplomatic relations and work towards further expanding bilateral cooperation.
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