Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu received a formal welcome and guard of honour at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, as Pakistan and the Maldives moved to strengthen bilateral relations through high-level talks and expanded economic cooperation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the visiting president during the official ceremony, where contingents of Pakistan’s armed forces presented a guard of honour. National anthems of both countries were played, and the leaders introduced their respective delegations before proceeding with scheduled discussions.
President Muizzu arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday for a three-day state visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The visit runs from October 20 to 22 and marks the first visit by a Maldivian president to Pakistan in 11 years.
The visit also coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and the Maldives, established in 1966.
President Muizzu Receives Formal Welcome at PM House
The official reception at the Prime Minister’s House highlighted the importance both countries attach to their longstanding diplomatic relationship.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif greeted President Muizzu and welcomed members of the Maldivian delegation. Following the guard of honour, the leaders introduced their respective officials before beginning formal engagements.
President Muizzu also planted a sapling on the lawns of the Prime Minister’s House during the visit.
The ceremony formed part of a broader diplomatic programme aimed at reviewing existing bilateral ties and identifying new areas of cooperation between the two countries.
First Presidential Visit in 11 Years
President Muizzu’s visit is significant because it is the first visit by a Maldivian president to Pakistan in more than a decade.
The two countries are using the occasion to mark six decades of diplomatic relations and explore opportunities to strengthen cooperation across several sectors.
According to official statements, the visit includes discussions on trade, investment, healthcare, education, tourism, agriculture, defence, maritime security, climate change and people-to-people exchanges.
The leaders are also expected to exchange views on regional and international developments of mutual interest.
The visit provides an opportunity for both governments to assess existing cooperation and consider practical steps to expand their partnership in areas of shared interest.
President to Meet Asif Ali Zardari
President Muizzu is also scheduled to meet President Asif Ali Zardari during his stay in Pakistan.
According to the announced programme, President Zardari will host a state banquet in honour of the visiting Maldivian president.
President Muizzu is also holding restricted and delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. These meetings are intended to review bilateral relations and explore ways to improve cooperation between the two countries.
Official statements indicate that several agreements and memorandums of understanding covering different areas of bilateral cooperation are expected to be signed during the visit.
The outcome of these engagements may help establish a framework for future collaboration, although the details will depend on the agreements finalised by both governments.
Ishaq Dar Welcomes Maldivian President
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also met President Muizzu in Islamabad on Wednesday.
During the meeting, Dar welcomed the Maldivian president and his delegation to Pakistan and highlighted the importance of expanding cooperation in trade, investment, education, climate change and tourism.
He also welcomed the participation of Maldivian business representatives in the Pakistan-Maldives Business Forum, expressing hope that discussions between businesses would lead to concrete opportunities for trade and investment.
President Muizzu, in turn, expressed the Maldives’ desire to deepen its close relations with Pakistan and explore additional areas of mutually beneficial cooperation, according to the Foreign Office.
The meeting placed economic engagement and business-to-business collaboration among the key priorities of the visit.
Pakistan-Maldives Business Forum to Explore Trade Opportunities
A Pakistan-Maldives Business Forum is also part of the visit’s programme. The forum is intended to bring together representatives of both countries’ business communities to discuss investment prospects and identify potential areas for commercial cooperation.
Trade and investment are important elements of the two governments’ efforts to broaden their relationship beyond diplomatic engagements.
The forum is expected to provide a platform for businesses to explore partnerships, discuss market opportunities and develop connections that could support future commercial activity.
Potential cooperation also extends to areas such as tourism, agriculture, healthcare and education, which are included in the broader bilateral agenda.
The expected agreements and business discussions could help establish new channels for cooperation, depending on the proposals agreed upon by both sides.
A Milestone in Six Decades of Diplomatic Relations
Pakistan and the Maldives established diplomatic relations in 1966, and the current visit comes as both countries mark their 60th anniversary.
President Muizzu’s trip brings senior officials from the Maldives to Islamabad for discussions covering political, economic and sector-specific cooperation.
The visit also follows earlier diplomatic engagement between representatives of the two countries, including a meeting last month between Maldivian parliamentary speaker Abdul Raheem Abdullah and Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, in Rawalpindi, as reported in the source account.
With high-level meetings, business discussions and expected cooperation agreements on the agenda, the three-day visit offers both countries an opportunity to strengthen diplomatic contacts and explore practical ways to deepen their partnership.
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