Pakistan and Maldives sign 20 MoUs, target $200m trade

Pakistan and the Maldives have agreed to raise bilateral trade from $13.9 million to $200 million within two years, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Wednesday, as the two countries signed 20 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) during the state visit of Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, Dawn and The Express Tribune reported.

Muizzu arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday for a three-day visit at the prime minister’s invitation. It is the first visit to Pakistan by a Maldivian president in 11 years, and it comes as the two countries mark 60 years of diplomatic relations, which were established in 1966.

What was agreed

Speaking at a joint press stakeout after the signing, PM Shehbaz said the existing trade of $13.9 million was “just a fraction of our potential”. He said the new target had Muizzu’s “complete endorsement”, and the Maldivian president repeated that he fully backed it.

The main announcements were:

• 20 MoUs: Muizzu said they cover health, education, fisheries and agriculture, youth, arts, Islamic affairs, tourism, information technology, police and defence.
• Direct flights: Muizzu welcomed ongoing talks on air links between the two countries, saying they would support tourism. He also pointed to “considerable potential” in halal and Muslim-friendly tourism.
• Health and education: about 250 Pakistani doctors and paramedics are serving in the Maldives, according to the prime minister, who promised more professionals if Malé needs them. Muizzu said talks covered more MBBS places under Pakistan’s Technical Assistance Programme and internships in Pakistan for Maldivian medical graduates.
• Technology: PM Shehbaz offered Pakistan’s experience with data centres, saying Pakistan has set up several, ranging from half a megawatt to eight and a half megawatts, as the Maldives moves to build its own. Muizzu said young people would get more chances in artificial intelligence, digitisation and other future technologies.
• Trees: Pakistan will support the Maldives’ plan to plant five million trees by providing 100,000 olive cuttings and 100,000 seeds of different plant species, on a timetable to be agreed.
• Business forum: a Maldives-Pakistan Business Forum on Thursday is meant to bring business leaders and investors together.

PM Shehbaz said he would “personally work” with Muizzu to turn the written MoUs into action with quick decisions. Muizzu agreed that “agreements are meaningful only when they produce results”.

Kashmir, Palestine and water

The prime minister said he briefed Muizzu on Pakistan’s principled position on occupied Jammu and Kashmir, reiterating Islamabad’s support for a peaceful settlement in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions. He said Pakistan would keep backing the Kashmiri people diplomatically at all international forums.

PM Shehbaz also raised Pakistan’s “serious concern” over India’s decision in April 2025 to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, calling it a violation of a binding international agreement. “Legally binding treaties must be respected, and shared water resources must never be weaponised or used as an instrument of political pressure or blackmail,” he said. He repeated that water is a “red line” for Pakistan, and that any violation would be treated by Pakistan as an act of war.

On Palestine, he praised the Maldives’ “unwavering” support and said Pakistan remains committed to the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and an independent, sovereign and contiguous state in line with UN resolutions.

Climate and students

Muizzu thanked Pakistan for what he called its exceptional warmth and hospitality, and said the visit offered a chance “to define the partnership of the future”. He described climate change as “a direct challenge to our security, our development and our future” for the Maldives, and welcomed cooperation on climate resilience, conservation, waste management and renewable energy.

He also thanked Pakistan for scholarships, training places and placements for Maldivian students, athletes, coaches and young professionals, and said both sides would expand a youth exchange programme. PM Shehbaz said many Maldivian students already study at Pakistani universities and colleges, especially in healthcare. He congratulated Muizzu on the honorary doctorate he was due to receive from the International Islamic University Islamabad.

Why it matters

Trade of $13.9 million is small for two countries that share a strong political relationship, and both leaders acknowledged that the economic side has lagged. Setting a target of $200 million in two years is ambitious, and the test will be whether the 20 MoUs lead to direct flights, shipping links and investment rather than staying on paper. For Pakistan, the visit also gives a friendly Muslim-majority island nation a first-hand account of its positions on Kashmir, water and Palestine.

This article draws on reporting by Dawn and The Express Tribune.