President Zardari: Pakistanis delighted with first state visit by a Maldives leader in a decade

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari told Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Wednesday that the Pakistani people were delighted to learn of a highest-level visit from Maldives after a long hiatus.

President Muizzu’s current state visit to Islamabad marks the first high‑level engagement between Maldives and Pakistan in over a decade, and coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The last time a Maldivian president visited Pakistan was in May 2015, when the then-President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom travelled to Islamabad.

On Wednesday evening, Pakistani President Zardari and First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari hosted Maldivian President Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed at at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the official residence of the Pakistani president.

According to the President’s Office, President Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha held separate official discussions with their respective counterparts.

During the meeting between the two leaders, President Zardari welcomed President Muizzu and expressed appreciation for his state visit to Pakistan, emphasizing its importance in further strengthening the longstanding bilateral ties between the two countries.

President Muizzu, meanwhile, conveyed his gratitude for the generous hospitality extended to the Maldivian delegation, comprising cabinet ministers and senior government officials.

During the meeting, President Muizzu highlighted the historic and brotherly relations between the Maldives and Pakistan, and stressed the immense potential to expand collaboration in key areas including trade, education, health, and capacity building.

Both leaders reviewed existing avenues of partnership and explored opportunities for further engagement at both bilateral and multilateral levels.

President Zardari also commended the tremendous growth of tourism in the Maldives.

He expressed confidence that the 20 cooperation agreements that were exchanged earlier on Wednesday would catalyze relations to new heights.

“Furthermore, he thanked President Muizzu for making the visit and noted that the Pakistani people were delighted to learn of a highest-level visit from Maldives after a long hiatus,” reads a press statement released by the President’s Office.

The meeting concluded with both presidents reaffirming their shared commitment to deepening mutual cooperation and advancing the interests of both nations.

President Muizzu’s meeting with President Zardari followed talks with Pakistani President Shehbaz Sharif, during which they agreed to increase bilateral trade between the two countries from USD 13 million to USD 200 million within the next two years, and to strengthen coordination on regional and international fronts.

The two leaders also witnessed the signing of 20 Memoranda of Understanding between the two countries, agreeing to launch direct flights between the two countries and to boost cooperation in multiple areas including healthcare, defense, education, trade, finance, technology, tourism and climate change.